Daily Business Report: Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021
California governor’s race starts right now
Gov. Newsom’s robust defeat of the recall gives
him a head start in the 2022 gubernatorial election
Gov. Gavin Newsom is keeping his job after months spent lambasting the recall as a Republican power grab; feverishly fundraising, wooing likely supporters and wrangling fractious progressive activists; sweating the odd, unexpectedly close poll; fusing policymaking and politicking; and calling upon big-name D.C. Democrats to come stump out west.
And after all that, it wasn’t especially close. After initial returns showed the recall failing by a nearly two-to-one margin, the Associated Press and TV networks quickly called the race for Newsom.
Now begins a new contest: To spin the results most favorably for the 2022 election — which starts right now.
For Newsom and his political team, the last six months of campaigning offer an electoral blueprint to seek four more years.
The governor’s victory ought to demonstrate to Democrats, both in California and elsewhere, the power of “showing what the alternative is,” said Newsom campaign spokesperson Nathan Click.
TOP PHOTO: Gov. Gavin Newsom gives a speech following his projected victory in the recall election at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento on Sept. 14, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters
ZIP Launchpad and Apple help students develop app
San Diego State University senior Hailey Valladao has long dreamed of designing an app to assist with clean water solutions. ZIP Launchpad, which teamed up with Apple to host a three-day accelerated app development experience, is helping bring the dream to reality.
During the Design Lab event, held virtually Aug. 2-4, Valladao and team member Steven Kha, a junior majoring in computer science, learned how to design a user-centric app that could help bring solutions to communities with poor quality drinking water.
A mechanical engineering major with an emphasis in bioengineering, Valladao has been involved with the Zahn Innovation Platform (ZIP) Launchpad, an on-campus incubator that helps students launch startup companies and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, for four years. She began exploring agile product development and eventually became an engineering intern, prototyping other teams’ designs. Now, she is pursuing her own ideas.
British Airways to resume nonstop flights
to London from San Diego International Airport
British Airways will resume service between London, England, United Kingdom via Heathrow Airport and San Diego International Airport. The year-round nonstop flights operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flight BA272 will depart San Diego at 7 p.m. and arrive in London the next day at 1:25 p.m. Flight BA273 will depart London at 1:45 p.m. and arrive in San Diego at 4:55 p.m. All flight times are local.
The resumption comes after British Airways was forced to suspend service in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline is the first carrier to resume nonstop service to Europe from San Diego.
“We are beyond thrilled to hear that British Airways will resume their flights between San Diego and London in October,” said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority president and CEO. “London is the largest demand market between San Diego and Europe due to the robust business relationships between the two cities and provides San Diegans a convenient hub to connect to destinations across Europe and beyond.”
Port of San Diego lands two transformative and
renowned restaurant operators for Seaport Village
The Board of Port Commissioners has approved the 19th and 20th leases for Seaport Village since taking ownership in 2018 — Gladstone’s and Shorebird Restaurant, two successful restaurants.
Gladstone’s, a historic beachside restaurant was founded in Malibu in 1972. In 2004, a licensee of the Gladstone’s brand opened another location at the Pine Avenue Pier in Long Beach. At Seaport Village, Gladstone’s will bring a fresh, new concept with a focus on classic seafood dishes including fish plates, king crab, Maine lobster, and more.
With successful launches in Newport Beach and Sedona, Ariz., Shorebird Restaurant brings its coastal flavors and relaxed vibes for its third opening at Seaport Village. An emerging concept under the Wild Thyme Restaurant Group umbrella, the menus boast sophisticated culinary techniques and casual plating styles with its scratch-made kitchen headed by Director of Culinary Chef Jay Bogsinske.
Industry veteran Jeffrey Busby joins AXIM
Biotechnologies as senior VP, business development
AXIM Biotechnologies Inc., a leader in the development of diagnostic testing for COVID-19, dry eye disease (DED) and cancer, has appointed Jeffrey A. Busby to senior vice president – business development.
Busby brings more than 30 years’ experience developing and managing national and international ophthalmic medical device sales and support teams. That experience includes senior regional management — Alcon Laboratories, Ft. Worth, Texas; U.S. director of sales VISX, Santa Clara; and director of global strategic accounts, Advanced Medical Optics, Canada, Latin America and Europe).
Busby served for eight years as chief commercial officer for Advanced Tear Diagnostics, Birmingham, Ala., and most recently, chief revenue officer, Scanoptix, Charlottesville, Va.
In this newly created position, Busby will be responsible for the launch and commercialization of the company’s recently announced acquisition of diagnostic technologies for dry eye disease (DED) that includes two FDA cleared 510(k) authorizations for the commercial sale of two ophthalmic “point of care” diagnostic lab tests — which are approved for reimbursement by both CMS and private insurance and will be used by both Optometrists and Ophthalmologists.
Infectious disease sleuth Sumit Chanda joins
Scripps Research and its Calibr drug division
Leading infectious disease researcher Sumit Chanda will join the Scripps Research Department of Immunology and Microbiology and its nonprofit drug discovery and development division, Calibr, focusing on preparedness for future pandemics, the institute announced.
Chanda not only studies how pathogens infect cells, but how the immune system responds, with an eye toward prevention and treatment. A longtime collaborator with Scripps Research scientists, including those at Calibr, he has contributed to the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID illness, as well as influenza, Dengue virus and HIV.
Chanda’s collaborations with the team at Calibr have helped reveal existing drugs that may help boost the effectiveness of current treatments for COVID infection. In addition, Chanda discovered an immune factor in the lungs that, upon infection with SARS-CoV-2, ignites a wider immune attack.
“One of the driving forces for me coming to Scripps Research is really to be able to put a medicine into humans,” Chanda says. “Scripps Research is unique in that it has the infrastructure and expertise to channel discoveries into moving the needle on human health.”
Former U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer Jr.
returns to Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek
Robert S. Brewer Jr., the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, has returned to the law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as of counsel. After serving over two years as the San Diego region’s top federal prosecutor, he returns to private practice to focus on civil litigation and white collar defense.
Brewer’s practice includes government investigations, fraud, business and commercial torts, health care and intellectual property disputes.
After being appointed U.S. Attorney by former President Donald Trump in 2018, Brewer oversaw the office’s unprecedented growth, strengthened relationships with law enforcement and reorganized sections of the Criminal Division, including the creation and implementation of the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking section. He also energized the diversion programs that offer alternatives to prison for selected criminal defendants and eligible military veterans. He made the battle against opioids and other illegal drugs a top priority.
Under his leadership, attorneys in his office handled some of the most high-profile and sophisticated prosecutions in the U.S., including former Chabad of Poway Synagogue Director Rabbi Ysiroel Goldstein and his five associates for a multi-million-dollar tax-evasion scheme, Gina Champion-Cain for the largest Ponzi scheme in the District’s history, and Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi, who is facing trial for allegedly providing material support to terrorists.
Illumina Accelerator invests in seven
genomics startups for third global cycle
Illumina Inc. has selected seven new genomics companies to join the third global funding cycle of Illumina Accelerator. The global company creation engine, focused on partnering with entrepreneurs to build breakthrough genomics startups, invested in four companies for the third funding cycle of Illumina Accelerator Cambridge, UK and three companies for the 13th funding cycle of Illumina Accelerator San Francisco Bay Area.
During two, six-month funding cycles per year, Illumina Accelerator provides the selected startups with access to seed investment, access to Illumina sequencing systems and reagents, as well as business guidance, genomics expertise, and fully operational lab space adjacent to Illumina’s campuses in Cambridge, UK or the San Francisco Bay Area.
Cal State San Marcos president to deliver
annual Report to the Community Sept. 30
As Cal State San Marcos emerges from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Ellen Neufeldt will deliver her annual Report to the Community on Thursday, Sept. 30, stressing the university’s role as a powerful engine for good.
More than 500 individuals representing a broad cross section of regional business, nonprofit, education and government leadership are expected to attend the event either virtually or in person. To ensure that more guests can be present, the event will be live-streamed, with an in-person audience of about 100 people.
Traditionally held in February, Report to the Community will now take place in the fall to coincide with the start of a new academic year.
Request for Proposals issued to develop
San Vicente energy storage facility
The San Diego County Water Authority issued a formal Request for Proposals seeking a full-service private partner capable of developing a large-scale pumped energy storage project planned jointly by the Water Authority and the City of San Diego. Proposals are due by 2 p.m. Nov. 3, and details such as how to file are included in the RFP document at www.sdcwa.org/contracting-opportunities.
The San Vicente project would create a small upper reservoir above the existing San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside, along with a tunnel system and an underground powerhouse to connect the two reservoirs. The powerhouse would contain four reversible pump turbines.
Excellence in North County Economic
Development Awards Luncheon
San Diego North Economic Development Council will host the third annual Excellence in North County Economic Development Awards Luncheon on Dec. 16t at the Seabird Resort in Oceanside from noon to 1:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m
The awards will spotlight:
•New businesses that have opened or relocated to North County.
• Existing businesses that made significant expansions.
• New development and investments in the community.
• Policies and activities that make for a more economically competitive region.
Tickets are on sale now. Over half of the event capacity has already been sold.
