Daily Business Report-June 8, 2020
A group of progressive California lawmakers and district attorneys announce they will reject donations from police unions. (Image via iStock)
California progressive politicians
turning away campaign cash from cops
As the wave of protests over incidents of police brutality and racist policing enters its second week, progressive California politicians are rethinking their financial relationship with the unions that represent law enforcement officers.
On Thursday, state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, a Democrat, announced on Twitter that he would no longer be accepting campaign contributions from police, sheriff and prison guard unions. He promised to donate roughly $20,000 he has received from such labor groups to date to nonprofits that serve Bay Area youth.
Though progressive politicians rarely endear themselves to the organized labor groups that represent police officers, sheriffs and prison guards, something seems to have shifted over the last week. A much broader ideological swath of the country’s institutions, elected leaders and the public at large have embraced the need for reform — even over the objections of rank-and-file law enforcement.
The public renunciation of campaign cash from cops is the first indication that for progressive politicians, law enforcement could join the likes of “Big Oil” or “Big Tobacco” — political interests deemed so toxic to some left-leaning voters that some lawmakers feel compelled to turn their free money away.
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How cells solve their identity crisis
Salk scientists uncover how cells remember their identity, avoiding errors that could cause cancer
Cancer is often the result of DNA mutations or problems with how cells divide, which can lead to cells “forgetting” what type of cell they are or how to function properly. Now, Professor Martin Hetzer and a team of scientists have provided clarity into how new cells remember their identity after cell division. These memory mechanisms, published in Genes & Development on June 4, 2020, could explicate problems that occur when cell identity is not maintained, such as cancer.
“We gained new insights into the memory mechanisms that allow the right genes to turn on at the right time, so that a new cell can become the same type of cell as the parent cell,” says Hetzer, the paper’s senior author and holder of the Jesse and Caryl Philips Foundation Chair and Salk’s chief science officer. “Our findings lay the foundation for understanding this brief and dynamic cell life stage that is critical for cellular identity.”
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General Atomics acquires IJK Controls
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI), manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft, has acquired a majority of the assets of IJK Controls, including facilities and all intellectual property. The corresponding workforce will join General Atomics.
IJK Controls is a Pasadena-based provider of innovative solutions for stabilization, pointing and tracking of cameras, sensors and antennas. The IJK workforce and assets will be integrated into General Atomics to support the organization’s growth initiatives focused on the development and fielding of advanced sensors and payloads for its portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems.
“We are excited to welcome the IJK Controls team to the GA-ASI family,” said Linden Blue, CEO. “Leveraging the team’s extensive expertise in the rapidly developing field of stabilized gimbals for airborne applications, General Atomics will expand its product portfolio and enable new mission capabilities for our customers.”
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San Diegans encouraged
to get tested for COVID-19
Given that people without symptoms can transmit the novel coronavirus, San Diegans should get tested for COVID-19, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced.
“Since we can’t be sure who is contagious, people should get tested even if they’re asymptomatic to make sure they’re not positive and infecting others,” said County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten, M.D.
Residents without symptoms wishing to get a COVID-19 test should check first with their health care provider. They can also get tested at a state or County site where tests are administered for free.
People showing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their health care provider and arrange for testing. If you don’t have a health care provider, call 2-1-1 and ask for a public health nurse who will give you a referral.
Everyone who wants to get tested needs an appointment. For County site appointments, call 2-1-1.
For state sites, make an appointment online or call 888-634-1123. State sites are in Escondido, El Cajon, Chula Vista, San Ysidro and Southeastern San Diego.
CAL FIRE and the San Diego County Fire Authority continue to schedule free testing in rural communities through 2-1-1.
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MiraCosta College awarded $510,000 for the
SoCal Veterans Business Outreach Center
MiraCosta College has been awarded a $510,000 grant renewal from the U.S. Small Business Administration to expand operations of the SoCal Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) located at the college’s Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad.
“This funding is critical in allowing us to continue our mission of serving transitioning service members, veterans of all eras, the National Guard, reserve, and military-connected family members who want to start a small business or grow an existing business,” said Hazel Beck, director of the SoCal VBOC.
The SoCal VBOC works with three Small Business Administration district offices (San Diego, Orange County/Inland Empire and Los Angeles) to deliver its primary mission—the delivery of the agency’s Boots to Business program—at 10 military bases throughout its service area.
Boots to Business is a two-day entrepreneurial education and training program offered as part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program. It introduces the concepts and skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur to transitioning service members and explores strategies, economics, legal structure, financing, business planning, and more.
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Sudberry Properties announces opening
of Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton
Sudberry Properties and Tharaldson Hospitality Management announce the opening of the newly constructed 100-guestroom Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton at Breakwater Town Center, 771 Palm Ave. in Imperial Beach.
The four-story, 62,000-square-foot hotel features “beach modern” architecture, a fitness center, breakfast and lounge area, business center, outdoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi. A ceremonial ribbon cutting is expected to be announced in the near future.
The hotel, which occupies 1.5 acres and includes 100 parking spaces, is the final phase of Breakwater Town Center, a public-private partnership by the city of Imperial Beach and Sudberry Properties designed to energize the historic city center. The town center occupies a prominent 4.75-acre site over a three-block area on Palm Avenue and serves at the gateway to Imperial Beach and Coronado.
The Hampton Inn & Suites’ development team includes architect Joseph Wong of JWDA of San Diego, Design Cell Architecture, an international firm headquartered in Las Vegas, and Watkins Landmark Construction of Carlsbad. The hotel is owned by Heritage Inn of Imperial Beach LLC, with Sudberry and Tharaldson serving as a managing partners.
The hotel is operated by Tharaldson Hospitality Management under a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide Holdings. Robert Blatt is the general manager.
Hotel guests have easy access to Breakwater Town Center’s variety of eateries, including Baskin Robbins, Chipotle, Five Guys, Jersey Mikes, Poke 123, Starbucks and Wingstop, as well as national grocer Grocery Outlet.
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City of San Diego commits $1milllion
to support local artists
The city of San Diego will distribute $1 million in funding for two new arts programs through the Commission for Arts and Culture. The funds will be split across two initiatives – SD Practice, which will purchase existing works from San Diego artists to add to the city’s extensive civic art collection, and Park Social, which will contract up to 18 artists to do site-specific projects in parks across the city.
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Encinitas startup Ecwid raises $42 million
for small business e-commerce platform
In the same week that Facebook announced a redoubled effort to make a bigger mark in e-commerce, one of its long-time partners has closed a large round of funding. Encinitas-based Ecwid, the startup that sells e-commerce tools directly and via third parties like Square and Wix, letting businesses build e-commerce experiences on their own websites and apps, as well as via Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Google, and more, has raised $42 million from Morgan Stanley and PeakSpan Capital.
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Coronavirus prompts new precautions
at San Diego International Airport
All passengers flying in and out of the San Diego International Airport can expect new safety measures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of those new measures include wearing a face covering and keeping an eye out for surfboard floor markings to ensure people stay six feet apart.
Plexiglass has also been installed at all the ticket counters. Passengers will notice new signs warning of enhanced cleaning procedures. Airport employees have to perform personal health screenings before showing up to work.
Air travel has been hit significantly hard by COVID-19. A spokesperson for the airport said before the pandemic, about 35,000 people traveled in and out daily. Now that number doesn’t even come close.
“In April, we saw up to a 96 decrease decrease in traffic, although we are starting to see a little more traffic now since some states are easing some restrictions,” said Sabrina LoPiccolo with San Diego International Airport.
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Biocept to relocate corporate offices
to new San Diego location
Biocept Inc., a commercial provider of molecular technologies designed to provide physicians with clinically actionable information to improve the outcomes of patients with cancer, is relocating its corporate offices and CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited high complexity laboratory to a new location in San Diego. The move is expected to be completed by 2020 year end.
The company’s new 39,000-square-foot headquarters, manufacturing and lab facility will be located at 9955 Mesa Rim Road, San Diego, 92121.
“This location is well-suited to meet our commercial, development and administrative needs and aligns with our strategy of supporting growth while reducing rent expense and other facility costs,” said Tim Kennedy, CFO and senior vice president of operations of Biocept. “Our CLIA license will be transferred to the new location with our move and we anticipate a smooth transition without workflow disruption.”
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8+ Black-owned SD businesses you should know
While we are proud to work toward larger changes that make San Diego a more inclusive place to work, live, and build, intentionally purchasing from or supporting Black-owned small businesses is something tangible everyone can do to make San Diego more equitable and sustainable.
To get your list started, here are 8 Black-owned San Diego small businesses, startups, restaurants, and groups you should know. There’s something for everyone:
Launched in North Park in 2014. StreetCar Merchants owners Ron Suel and RaVae Smith serve up Southern classics like Southern style fried chicken, waffles, fried green tomatoes, grit fritters, and indulgent cakes. Its name an homage to the historical local streetcar system that once connected North Park to the rest of San Diego, StreetCar’s interior also features vintage photos and reclaimed wood. If you’re downtown, you can try sister restaurants SuckerFree, or Shotcaller Street Soul Food, which opened in late 2019.
We Tha Plug was launched in February 2019 as a meetup group to connect and empower Black, Latino, other minorities and underrepresented founders as well as minority venture capitalists and angel investors in the startup, tech and innovation space. One of their goals is to create an ecosystem that advocates tech and innovation entrepreneurship in Black and Latino communities across the United States and across the world by giving founders access to startup fundamental education, advice, mentorship, programming, and funding.
If you’re not hungry right now, you will be – just check out their Instagram. With a focus on plant-based breakfast and brunch in the East Village, Spoiled Vegans Cafe serves up all kinds of decadent waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and omelettes. They recently reopened for curbside pick-up, but have been selling out quickly – sometimes in less than 15 minutes. Find more information on their Instagram page – and be sure to set your alarm.
Oceanside-based MOTU Innovation is a leader in ship repair & engineering support services. The team provides a broad background in ship repair trade knowledge, as well as shipboard system design and engineering. Learn more.
https://www.motuinnovation.com
Founded by Janice Brown, who was recognized as trial lawyer of the year by the Department of Justice & a California Black Lawyer of the Year, Brown Law Group is a leading Southern California litigation law firm specializing in all aspects of employment and business litigation. With major clients including Allstate Insurance Company, CenturyLink, Conduent, Liberty Mutual, NBC, Toyota, and United Parcel Service, the group has built a reputation as a small firm that attracts big clients. Brown Law Group attributes much of its success to the confidence of these major employers. Additionally, Brown Law Group has provided pro bono services to I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) to further promote regional awareness of environmental issues.
Cafe X: By Any Beans Necessary
El Cajon-based Cafe X is a worker-owned coffee shop and co-op based in San Diego that aims to enrich its member-owners, pass on communal wealth and knowledge, and provide welcoming space to organize and learn. Café X is part venue for delicious coffee and baked goods, part local art gallery, part event space – and all equitable and cooperative community relationship-building. The cafe hosts community events and local educational support for community members, run by those who are committed to equalizing knowledge.
In 2017, with children on the way and their health in mind, San Diego sisters Martiza, Sativa, and Kaya started making their own products with using plant-based ingredients, like activated charcoal, earth clays, essential oils, and herbs. From there, Dirt Don’t Hurt began. The company takes a natural approach to personal care and cleaning products, which are 100 percent vegan and cruelty free, and can be found at markets, boutiques, and grocery stores throughout Southern California.
Launched by Dr. Steven Moyo, Welfie is an app that makes health accessible and affordable. Dr. Moyo, who works at UC San Diego Health, wanted to do more to help people engage, connect, learn, and access preventative help. Due to COVID-19, he has pivoted the company to incorporate an all-encompassing COVID-19 reopening portal – which offers employers no-contact health screenings and an eCommerce store to order PPE.
This is just a sampling of San Diego’s many Black-owned businesses. To find more, we encourage you to visit:
Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce
If you are a Black entrepreneur or business owner in San Diego and we can help connect you to resources, programs, or other assistance, please contact us here.
