Daily Business Report — Nov. 1, 2012

A New City Hall on Downtown
Waterfront Could Gain Traction

KPBS and Investigative Newsource have learned one of the city’s most powerful developers —local media mogul Doug Manchester — suggested city hall move to the Navy Broadway Complex, a mega waterfront development he wants to build Downtown. And at least one mayoral candidate suggests it’s an option.  Mayor Jerry Sanders nearly closed a deal on a new city hall two years ago. The $290 million proposal would have replaced the deteriorating, 50-year-old building on C Street. But the city’s dismal finances were still front and center, and faced with putting the issue before the voters, Sanders took it off the table. Under a new administration and the city’s brighter financial picture, Manchester’s proposal could gain traction as the debate over a new city headquarters resurfaces. The development, which has been in the works for more than 20 years, obligates Manchester to build the Navy a new $162 million headquarters, free of charge, in exchange for the right to develop hotels, retail, and more office space at the site. It’s a big deal with a big price tag — more than $1.2 billion. For the full story, visit: www.kpbs.org.

San Diego Law Library Launches Partnership Program

In an effort to offset a decline in operating funds, the San Diego Law Library is announcing a series of new benefits under a partnership program. The new San Diego Law Library Partnership offers law firms and related businesses the opportunity to host or develop appropriate law library educational programs, receive online benefits and facilities discounts in exchange for its support at various giving levels. At the individual level, the law library has created a speakers bureau and bloggers bureau that allows qualified attorneys and professionals to speak at law library educational programs and share blog content through the law library website. The law library is also allowing attorneys for the first time to buy individual memberships in cases where their firms opt out of the firm membership program. For more information about these new programs, contact the law library at info@sdcpll.org.

USD’s Women in Real Estate Conference to be Staged Nov. 5

The University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate will host its second annual Women in Real Estate Conference on Monday, Nov. 5, on the university campus. Networking from 7 to 8 a.m. Program from 8 to 10 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Leanne Lachman, president of Lachman Associates in New York and an executive-in-residence at Columbia Business School. Also speaking will be Lydia Jacobs-Horton, director of global facilities and real estate at Procter & Gamble Global Business Services in Cincinnati. Gail Goldberg, executive director of the Urban Land Institute-Los Angeles and former planning director for the city of San Diego, is moderator. To register, visit www.sandiego.edu/bmcevent. More information is available from Diane Gustafson at (619) 260-2379.

NewSchool of Architecture Selects New Provost

Henri T. de Hahn, head of the architecture program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has been selected as the new provost of the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, responsible for program planning and overall academic leadership. De Hahn, who assumes the post in December, succeeds acting provost Kurt Hunker, who will become director of graduate programs for the school and chair the graduate architecture program. De Hahn has been with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo since August 2006. He is credited with advancing the department’s core curriculum and expanding the interdisciplinary approach to design, in addition to diversifying its off-campus programs such as its international exchange programs. De Hahn has taught and held administrative posts at other universities including the College of Architecture, University of Kentucky.

Ashford University Executive Receives Spirit Award

Dr. Alice Vestergaard, director of business development at Ashford University, has received the American Cancer Society Spirit Award, presented to the organization or person who has been exceptional in their personal commitment to the cause and the mission. A cancer survivor, Vestergaard was the chair of the 2012 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the first year it exceeded its goal in its five-year history.

Meth Vaccine Shows Promising Results in Early Tests

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have performed successful tests of an experimental methamphetamine vaccine on rats. Vaccinated animals that received the drug were largely protected from typical signs of meth intoxication. If the vaccine proves effective in humans too, it could become the first specific treatment for meth addiction, which is estimated to affect 25 million people worldwide. “This is an early-stage study, but its results are comparable to those for other drug vaccines that have then gone to clinical trials,” said Michael A. Taffe, an associate professor in the institute’s addiction science group, known as the Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders. Taffe is the senior author of the study, which is currently in press with the journal Biological Psychiatry.