Daily Business Report-Nov. 18, 2019
Morning commuters. State officials are working to reduce tailpipe emissions. (Photo by Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters)
California says it won’t buy cars from GM,
Toyota, others opposing tough tailpipe standards
By Rachel Becker, CalMatters
Starting immediately, California state agencies will no longer buy gas-powered sedans, officials said Friday. And starting in January, the state will stop purchasing vehicles from carmakers that haven’t agreed to follow California’s clean car rules.
The decision affects General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and multiple other automakers that sided with the Trump administration in the ongoing battle over tailpipe pollution rules. The policy will hit General Motors particularly hard; California spent more than $27 million on passenger vehicles from GM-owned Chevrolet in 2018.
California’s Department of General Services, the state’s business manager that oversees vehicle purchases for California’s fleet, announced the bans on Friday afternoon. The immediate ban on state purchases of cars powered only by gas will include exceptions for public safety vehicles.
“The state is finally making the smart move away from internal combustion engine sedans,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement emailed to CalMatters. The new policies align with Newsom’s September executive order urging the state government to reduce greenhouse gases. “Carmakers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of California’s buying power,” Newsom said.
It’s the latest volley in the fight over climate-changing pollution from cars and trucks. “It certainly sends a strong message to the automakers that have come out on the other side of California in this litigation,” said Julia Stein, supervising attorney at UCLA’s Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic. “It’s taking steps to encourage automakers to be on what it views as the right side of that dispute.”
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Carlsbad’s Element 3-building
property sold for $23.1 million
Element, Carlsbad’s multi-building industrial and research and development complex, has sold for $23.1 million to Nelli-Regen Three LLC. The seller was Alvarez & Marsal Capital Real Estate LLC. The property was 100 percent leased to seven tenants at the time of sale.
Element is located at 2232, 2234 and 2236 Rutherford Road. The suites feature creative office finishes which include open ceilings, exposed HVAC, and extensive glass. Additional contemporary design elements include glazed cement flooring, and glass roll-up doors that combine to create unique progressive work environments.
Aric Starck, vice chairman with Cushman & Wakefield San Diego, represented the seller in the transaction.
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Sandra L. Kerl finalist for Water Authority GM Post
The Board officers of the San Diego County Water Authority are negotiating contract terms with Sandra L. Kerl to be the next general manager of the region’s wholesale water agency, following a months-long national search. The contract would be voted on in open session during the regular board meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Water Authority headquarters.
“We are excited about what Sandy brings to the Water Authority – deep experience with water issues and her top-notch skills managing an agency that’s so critical to San Diego County,” said Board Chair Jim Madaffer. “Sandy has the knowledge, temperament and vision to begin a new, collaborative era of extraordinary achievements for our agency and our region.”
Kerl would replace longtime General Manager Maureen Stapleton.
Kerl has served as the agency’s acting general manager since Stapleton’s departure, working closely with the board to lead a staff of 250 employees at offices in Kearny Mesa, Escondido, Imperial Valley and Sacramento. Kerl has more than 25 years of progressively responsible experience in all aspects of municipal management, including the past decade at the Water Authority.
Before joining the Water Authority as deputy general manager in November 2009, Kerl served as city manager of La Mesa.
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San Diego County jobless rate up slightly in October
The unemployment rate in San Diego County was 2.8 percent in October, up from a revised 2.7 percent in September and below the year-ago estimate of 3.2 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported. This compares to the unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.7 percent for California and 3.3 percent for the nation during the same period.
Between September 2019 and October 2019, total nonfarm employment increased from 1,516,200 to 1,525,600, a gain of 9,400 jobs. Total farm employment decreased by 200, from 9,100 to 8,900.
Between October 2018 and October 2019,total nonfarm employment increased from 1,495,400 to 1,525,600, adding 30,200 jobs. Agricultural employment remained unchanged at 8,900.
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Merck acquires Calporta for up to $576 million
San Diego-based Calporta Therapeutics was acquired by Merck, in a deal worth up to $576 million. Calporta has developed pharmaceutical drugs, currently under evaluation, for treating Alzheimer’s, ALS and Parkinson’s disease.
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Guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie returns
to homeport Naval Air Station San Diego today
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, along with embarked detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49 “Monstars,” returns to its homeport of Naval Station San Diego today following an independent deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
While in 7th Fleet, Lake Erie conducted Enforcement Coordination Cell operations in various areas of the Western Pacific, monitoring shipping vessels in support of United Nation’s sanctions against North Korea.
The ship covered approximately 52,000 nautical miles over the course of its deployment.
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NASSCO, BAE, Continental Maritime awarded
$299 million Navy ship maintenance contract increase
GovCon Wire
BAE Systems, Continental Maritime and General Dynamics’ NASSCO subsidiary have collectively received a $299.3 million increase to a contract for maintenance and availability support for U.S. Navy surface combatant ships.
All three contractors are eligible to pursue delivery orders to help the chief of naval operations address availabilities for guided-missile destroyers and cruisers via the multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, now valued at $838.5 million, the Department of Defense said.
Services cover workforce labor and facilities needed to maintain, repair and modernize ships visiting or assigned at the Port of San Diego.
Work under the latest award runs through March 2021.
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Salk Institute receives highest
ranking from Charity Navigator
For the ninth consecutive time, the Salk Institute has earned the highest ranking—4 out of 4 stars—from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity and nonprofit evaluator. Only three percent of the roughly 10,000 nonprofits evaluated have achieved this recognition for nine consecutive times.
The coveted ranking indicates the Salk Institute outperforms most other charities in America in regard to executing best fiscal practices and carrying out its mission in a financially efficient way.
Charity Navigator’s data-driven analysis of the 1.5 million American charities has been covered by Forbes, Business Week and others for providing donors with a way to recognize nonprofits that provide greater accountability, transparency and concrete results.
“We are grateful for the faithful generosity of our donors and this recognition as we continue to pursue answers to challenging questions in cancer, neuroscience, genetics, immunology, aging, plant biology and more,” said Salk Institute President Rusty Gage. “We simply could not make the life-changing discoveries Salk is renowned for without our supporters.”
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THE GRINCH IS BACK!
