Andrew Bowen (he/him)
@acbowen.bsky.social
KPBS reporter covering housing, transit and local politics in San Diego. Union shop steward. Creator and host of Freeway Exit, a podcast about freeways. Gaily homosexual.
I run @sdtrafficdeaths.bsky.social.
https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/freeway-exit
I run @sdtrafficdeaths.bsky.social.
https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/freeway-exit
On Wednesday, the California Assembly held a special committee meeting on the federal de-funding of public media. I spoke on behalf of @wemakekpbs.bsky.social.
Our union is fighting to create and preserve middle-class careers in journalism, and we need everyone's support.
Our union is fighting to create and preserve middle-class careers in journalism, and we need everyone's support.
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
On Wednesday, the California Assembly held a special committee meeting on the federal de-funding of public media. I spoke on behalf of @wemakekpbs.bsky.social.
Our union is fighting to create and preserve middle-class careers in journalism, and we need everyone's support.
Our union is fighting to create and preserve middle-class careers in journalism, and we need everyone's support.
San Diego is preparing 2 community plan updates impacted by SB79: Clairemont and College. These are my rough sketches of the half-mile radii around trolley stops. Yellow is where the city wanted to keep single-family zoning.
Past coverage:
www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
www.kpbs.org/news/quality...
Past coverage:
www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
www.kpbs.org/news/quality...
October 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
San Diego is preparing 2 community plan updates impacted by SB79: Clairemont and College. These are my rough sketches of the half-mile radii around trolley stops. Yellow is where the city wanted to keep single-family zoning.
Past coverage:
www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
www.kpbs.org/news/quality...
Past coverage:
www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
www.kpbs.org/news/quality...
I was feeling brave, so I stopped by the window of the first car on my bike. Told the driver this was not a parking space and next time please park in the *free* garage. She gave me a sarcastic “thank you so much” and I went on my way, feeling sad but glad I spoke up.
September 23, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I was feeling brave, so I stopped by the window of the first car on my bike. Told the driver this was not a parking space and next time please park in the *free* garage. She gave me a sarcastic “thank you so much” and I went on my way, feeling sad but glad I spoke up.
September 12, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Okay looks like Richardson was actually a no and Grove switched from not voting to yes. SB 79 will now head to governor.
September 12, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Okay looks like Richardson was actually a no and Grove switched from not voting to yes. SB 79 will now head to governor.
SB 79 has the votes!
September 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
SB 79 has the votes!
My story on San Diego's plan for single-family zoning near its $2 billion trolley extension has been the top story on our website for close to 24 hours now! Thanks to all who have read and shared 💞🏗️🚋 www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
August 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
My story on San Diego's plan for single-family zoning near its $2 billion trolley extension has been the top story on our website for close to 24 hours now! Thanks to all who have read and shared 💞🏗️🚋 www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
They’re burning fossil fuels
to create the AI-generated
images and words
to convince us
that fossil fuels and AI
are good for us.
to create the AI-generated
images and words
to convince us
that fossil fuels and AI
are good for us.
August 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
They’re burning fossil fuels
to create the AI-generated
images and words
to convince us
that fossil fuels and AI
are good for us.
to create the AI-generated
images and words
to convince us
that fossil fuels and AI
are good for us.
Wow, the KPBS audience really cares about public transit and building housing near it!
If this is you, we'd love your support 💞🚋🏗️
kpbs.org/donate
If this is you, we'd love your support 💞🚋🏗️
kpbs.org/donate
August 22, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Wow, the KPBS audience really cares about public transit and building housing near it!
If this is you, we'd love your support 💞🚋🏗️
kpbs.org/donate
If this is you, we'd love your support 💞🚋🏗️
kpbs.org/donate
Not the Society of Professional Journalists using AI-generated images in their fundraising emails 😣
August 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Not the Society of Professional Journalists using AI-generated images in their fundraising emails 😣
SD City Council voted 6-2 to establish a parking meter zone in/around Balboa Park. City aims to install meters on 6th Ave and Park Blvd by the fall. Revenue to be spent on parking/mobility needs, including free tram service and fixing broken lighting.
Vote on paid lots is still a few months away.
Vote on paid lots is still a few months away.
July 28, 2025 at 11:42 PM
SD City Council voted 6-2 to establish a parking meter zone in/around Balboa Park. City aims to install meters on 6th Ave and Park Blvd by the fall. Revenue to be spent on parking/mobility needs, including free tram service and fixing broken lighting.
Vote on paid lots is still a few months away.
Vote on paid lots is still a few months away.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's plan for paid parking in Balboa Park.
City Council is set to vote on Monday on the installation of on-street meters. A vote on the off-street lots won't be for several months.
Zoo lots will still be free until the city and zoo can strike a revenue sharing deal.
City Council is set to vote on Monday on the installation of on-street meters. A vote on the off-street lots won't be for several months.
Zoo lots will still be free until the city and zoo can strike a revenue sharing deal.
July 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's plan for paid parking in Balboa Park.
City Council is set to vote on Monday on the installation of on-street meters. A vote on the off-street lots won't be for several months.
Zoo lots will still be free until the city and zoo can strike a revenue sharing deal.
City Council is set to vote on Monday on the installation of on-street meters. A vote on the off-street lots won't be for several months.
Zoo lots will still be free until the city and zoo can strike a revenue sharing deal.
Are these the 6/26 amendments the letter refers to?
June 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Are these the 6/26 amendments the letter refers to?
Was honored to accept the SPJ San Diego “Distinguished Coverage Award” tonight for my reporting on infrastructure challenges in the face of climate change 😁
June 27, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Was honored to accept the SPJ San Diego “Distinguished Coverage Award” tonight for my reporting on infrastructure challenges in the face of climate change 😁
San Diego City Council just voted 5-4 to majorly roll back the city's ADU bonus program. Motion was to limit most single-family lots to 4 ADUs, with up to 6 allowed for especially large lots.
Ball is now in the court of Mayor Todd Gloria, who can veto, and state HCD, who can try to block it.
Ball is now in the court of Mayor Todd Gloria, who can veto, and state HCD, who can try to block it.
June 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
San Diego City Council just voted 5-4 to majorly roll back the city's ADU bonus program. Motion was to limit most single-family lots to 4 ADUs, with up to 6 allowed for especially large lots.
Ball is now in the court of Mayor Todd Gloria, who can veto, and state HCD, who can try to block it.
Ball is now in the court of Mayor Todd Gloria, who can veto, and state HCD, who can try to block it.
San Diego City Council just voted 5-2 to approve a major package of parking policy reforms, including:
🅿️ dynamic pricing at meters during special events
🅿️ streamlined creation of new meter zones
🅿️ easier creation of residential parking permit zones
🅿️ charging on Sundays*
🅿️ dynamic pricing at meters during special events
🅿️ streamlined creation of new meter zones
🅿️ easier creation of residential parking permit zones
🅿️ charging on Sundays*
June 2, 2025 at 11:33 PM
San Diego City Council just voted 5-2 to approve a major package of parking policy reforms, including:
🅿️ dynamic pricing at meters during special events
🅿️ streamlined creation of new meter zones
🅿️ easier creation of residential parking permit zones
🅿️ charging on Sundays*
🅿️ dynamic pricing at meters during special events
🅿️ streamlined creation of new meter zones
🅿️ easier creation of residential parking permit zones
🅿️ charging on Sundays*
SDPD says these were Homeland Security units responding to medical emergencies along the Rock n’ Roll Marathon.
The marathon was long over at this point, not sure why they needed sirens but that’s not for SDPD to explain.
The marathon was long over at this point, not sure why they needed sirens but that’s not for SDPD to explain.
June 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
SDPD says these were Homeland Security units responding to medical emergencies along the Rock n’ Roll Marathon.
The marathon was long over at this point, not sure why they needed sirens but that’s not for SDPD to explain.
The marathon was long over at this point, not sure why they needed sirens but that’s not for SDPD to explain.
Anybody know what kind of vehicle this is? Surely this cannot be SDPD? The occupants were in tactical gear that said POLICE. Another vehicle followed this one. This afternoon on 6th Ave by Balboa Park.
June 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Anybody know what kind of vehicle this is? Surely this cannot be SDPD? The occupants were in tactical gear that said POLICE. Another vehicle followed this one. This afternoon on 6th Ave by Balboa Park.
My neighborhood newspaper reported on a 5-story apartment building going up, and it used AI to create an imaginary 7-story building. This is shameful.
May 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My neighborhood newspaper reported on a 5-story apartment building going up, and it used AI to create an imaginary 7-story building. This is shameful.
Fun fact: Part of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is zoned for single-family homes, despite the city not having land use authority there.
May 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Fun fact: Part of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is zoned for single-family homes, despite the city not having land use authority there.
A movie that takes place where you’re from
(Santa Rosa, CA)
(Santa Rosa, CA)
April 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from
(Santa Rosa, CA)
(Santa Rosa, CA)
I went one of San Diego’s least walkable neighborhoods to test how long it takes to get from one side of the street to the other — when there’s no crosswalk. Check out this video to see the results! www.instagram.com/reel/DH9Qc3h...
April 2, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I went one of San Diego’s least walkable neighborhoods to test how long it takes to get from one side of the street to the other — when there’s no crosswalk. Check out this video to see the results! www.instagram.com/reel/DH9Qc3h...
Campbell mourns the construction of 10 homes on "what used to be a backyard." And yet somehow, there's still a backyard! Sarah said it was "the winner."
March 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Campbell mourns the construction of 10 homes on "what used to be a backyard." And yet somehow, there's still a backyard! Sarah said it was "the winner."
Councilmember Jen Campbell, showing Sarah Agudo's home to the world: "This is ridiculous and it's got to end."
March 5, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Councilmember Jen Campbell, showing Sarah Agudo's home to the world: "This is ridiculous and it's got to end."
Leon Williams, San Diego's first Black city councilmember, died Monday at 102. I had the honor of interviewing him a few years ago about his role in stopping Highway 252, which would have destroyed the neighborhood of Southcrest.
Learn more by listening to Freeway Exit! www.kpbs.org/podcasts/fre...
Learn more by listening to Freeway Exit! www.kpbs.org/podcasts/fre...
March 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Leon Williams, San Diego's first Black city councilmember, died Monday at 102. I had the honor of interviewing him a few years ago about his role in stopping Highway 252, which would have destroyed the neighborhood of Southcrest.
Learn more by listening to Freeway Exit! www.kpbs.org/podcasts/fre...
Learn more by listening to Freeway Exit! www.kpbs.org/podcasts/fre...