Daily Business Report — June 12, 2012

Filner Holds Slight Lead Over
DeMaio in Post Primary Poll

The first post-primary mayoral poll was released Monday, showing Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) with a three-point lead over Councilman Carl DeMaio.The poll, conducted for 10News by SurveyUSA, showed Filner with 46 percent and DeMaio with 43 percent, and the rest undecided. That’s within the margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percent. The two reached the November ballot by getting the most votes in last week’s primary with four major contenders. DeMaio edged out Filner, 32 percent to 30 percent. According to the new poll, those who voted for Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher are split between the two candidates, while those who cast ballots for District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis prefer Filner by a 2 to 1 margin. Filner also holds an 8-point advantage in support of independents in the poll. The poll results showed DeMaio was the favorite of those who did not vote in the primary election but do plan to cast ballots in November. — City News Service.

Several City Services to Be Restored
Under Newly Adopted City Budget

The San Diego City Council on Monday approved Mayor Jerry Sanders’ 2013 fiscal budget, which restores a variety of services that had been reduced and adds an additional $30 million for street resurfacing. The vote was 7-1 with Councilman Carl DeMaio, a candidate for mayor, voting no. The city is projecting a $119 million budget surplus over the next five years. City service restorations under the budget include increasing operating hours at all 35 branch libraries in the city, adding recruits to the police academies, adding a second fire academy next year, among others.

New Tribal Government Center
Completed for Sycuan Tribe

Construction has been completed on a new Tribal Government Center Complex for the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians. The completion was announced by the KCM Group, the construction management firm for the band. The project includes the Tribal Government Center and administration building, 16,000-square-feet in size, which house the Tribal Council offices, Tribal Council Chambers, legal and administrative offices and office for support services. The new complex replaces the current government building, which is being demolished to make way for a road and infrastructure upgrade project needed to improve access and utility services to the reservation. The center overlooks the Sycuan reservation and includes a new parking area, landscaping and new underground utilities and infrastructure.

SDSU to Teach New Social Media Course
With an Emphasis on Business Uses

A new fall course at San Diego State University will teach students how social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest are being used professionally by businesses and organization. “Social Media in the Digital Age” is being offered by the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Rebecca Coates Nee is the instructor. Any SDSU student regardless of major may enroll in the lower-division class, which will be taught in a blended format, meaning students will meet both in person and online during the semester. Classes will be taught on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Registration for fall classes will begin during on-campus orientation sessions in mid-July for first-time freshmen and in early August for transfer students.

USD Creates Center to Give Future Teachers
Ways to Use Mobile Devices for Learning

University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences has created a Mobile Technology Learning Center to give future teachers ideas on how best to integrate mobile devices into the classroom to enhance teaching. “Our goal is to be the research environment of the future, leveraging faculty and student resources and bringing together multidisciplinary teams of some of the best researchers and thinkers in the world,” said Scott Himelstein, who will direct the new center and continue his current duties as director of USD’s Center for Education Policy and Law. “We want to be a ‘living laboratory’ for schools and educators, by collaborating with local pre-kindergarten through grade 12 districts, as well as institutions of higher learning,  to test research findings and provide future teachers with unique teaching and research opportunities.” The center is to release an interim report in the fall and a final report in spring 2013.