Daily Business Report-July 25, 2017
The USS Rafael Peralta will make its home in San Diego. (U.S. Navy Photo)
Destroyer Named After San Diego Marine
Rafael Peralto to be Commissioned July 29
The Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Rafael Peralta — named after a San Diego Marine — will be commissioned at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Naval Air Station North Island. The ship will make its vhome in San Diego.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Rosa Maria Peralta, the mother of Sgt. Rafael Peralta, will serve as sponsor of the ship. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Mrs. Peralta will give the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”
Cmdr. Brian Ribota, a native of Tracy, California, is the commanding officer of the ship and leads the core crew of 300 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,300-ton Peralta was built by General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a beam of 66 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet.
The ship’s namesake, Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Rafael Peralta, was born on April 7, 1979 in Mexico City. The son of Rafael and Rosa Peralta, he was the oldest of four children. Immigrating to the United States with his family as a teenager, he graduated from Morse High School in San Diego in 1997. He joined the Marine Corps in 2000, immediately after qualifying for a green card. He became an American citizen while serving in the Corps.
On Nov. 15, 2004, Peralta, then 25, deployed to Iraq as a scout team leader assigned to the “Lava Dogs” of Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. During the second battle of Fallujah, his team was ordered to clear houses as part of Operation Phantom Fury. Peralta was not personally assigned to enter the buildings, but chose to do so anyway.
Peralta led his team through a series of house clearings before charging into the fourth house. He found two rooms empty on the ground floor. Peralta opened a third door and was hit multiple times with AK-47 fire, leaving him severely wounded. Two Marines behind him then surged into the room to return fire. The insurgents responded by throwing a grenade at the Marines. The two Marines with Sgt. Peralta tried to get out of the room but could not. Still conscious on the floor, reports indicate that he was able to smother the grenade under his body, absorbing the majority of the lethal blast and shrapnel, killing him instantly, but saving the lives of his fellow Marines.
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New San Diego Legislation
Aims to Solve Housing Crisis
San Diego began tackling its housing crisis on Monday by approving legislation aimed at quickly increasing the amount of housing constructed at prices affordable to middle and low-income workers. The new laws make it easier and cheaper for homeowners to add granny flats, make many more housing projects eligible for expedited approvals, and streamline approvals by revamping the appeals process. — San Diego Union-Tribune
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Balboa Park Upgrades to Save
Millions of Gallons of Water
Balboa Park is saving 2.4 million gallons of water annually through a recent partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority and SDG&E. The retrofits, completed last week, will generate water savings equivalent to 3.6 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or roughly the amount used annually by 15 typical Southern California families of four.
The project involved upgrades in nine historic Balboa Park buildings that are home to 13 cultural organizations. Most of the water savings will be achieved in restrooms, where water use will be cut by more than half.
The retrofits, completed last week, will generate water savings equivalent to 3.6 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or roughly the amount used annually by 15 typical Southern California families of four.
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Airport Launches Green Concessions
Program to Aid Environment
San Diego International Airport has launched the Green Concessions program, which rewards and recognizes airport concessionaires that help reduce water and energy use, minimize waste and educate consumers on what green business is all about.
The program has already certified eight companies as “Green Concessions”:
Brighton Collectibles, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Pannikin Coffee & Tea, PGA TOUR Shop, PGA TOUR Grill, Saffron Thai, Stellar News Express, and Stone Brewing.
JoAnn Kirkland, general manager for Paradies Lagadere, which operates the PGA TOUR Shop and Brighton Collectibles, said she was impressed that the program goes beyond sustainable basics like energy savings and recycling. She especially appreciated tips on conserving resources such as register tape and cleaning items.
Examples of sustainable business practices at Green Concessions-certified concessionaires include:
- Recyclable food packaging, beverage containers and utensils.
- Offering alternatives to single-use water bottles.
- Low-flow fixtures and other water conservation techniques.
- Composting and/or food procurement practices aimed at minimizing waste
- LED and other types of energy-efficient lighting to reduce electricity usage.
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Carlton Heights Villas Sold for $13 Million
San Diego based commercial real estate investment firm SENTRE has sold the 70-unit Carlton Heights Villas apartment community in Santee to CVG Properties Inc., a California corporation, for $13 million or $185,000 per unit. The seller was represented in this transaction by Berkadia.
Located at 9705 Carlton Hills Blvd., Carlton Heights Villas underwent significant interior and exterior improvements.
Built in 1979, the property features one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans with hardwood-style flooring in kitchens, upgraded designer faucets and light fixtures, air conditioning, ceiling fans, dining rooms, mirrored closet doors and modern two-tone paint. Select units feature private balconies and patios, spacious pantries, walk-in closets and baths. Onsite amenities include a fitness center, swimming pool and Jacuzzi with a resort-style cabana, barbecues, clubhouse, covered and assigned parking and two modern laundry facilities.
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Anchor Health Properties Acquires
Fletcher Parkway Medical Center
The Fletcher Parkway Medical Center, an 82,024-square-foot, three-story medical office building in La Mesa, has been sold to Anchor Health Properties by The Abbey Company. Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P. marketed the property. Financial details were not disclosed.
Fletcher Parkway Medical Center is located adjacent to Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Anchored by Sharp HealthCare, the property features imaging services, a Surgical Care Affiliates surgery center, radiology, laboratory, diagnostics, cardiology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, rehabilitation and hospice.
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Sailors’ Selfie
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Personnel Announcements
Agustin Ceballos Joins Seltzer Caplan Law Firm
Agustin Ceballos has joined the law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as an associate in the Business Department. His practice focuses on cross‑border tax and corporate matters, international estate planning, advising on tax reporting and compliance and tax controversy.
Ceballos has extensive experience structuring international transactions, operations and investments, including use of tax treaties for reduced tax rates, optimum use of foreign tax credits and entity classifications. He is also well-versed in representing clients on U.S. income, gift and estate tax reporting and compliance. In addition, Ceballos has represented U.S. and foreign families in multi-generation succession planning.
Prior to joining the firm, Ceballos was an international tax attorney at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP in San Diego. Earlier in his career, Ceballos worked for the Mexico City-based firms Perez de Acha Abogados, S.C. and Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., providing tax planning advice and representing international companies through tax audits, litigation and proceedings before federal Mexican tax authorities.
