Daily Business Report: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
Sam Woodhouse to retire as artistic director
of San Diego REP after 46 years of accomplishments
Sam Woodhouse co-founded the San Diego Repertory Theatre over four decades ago, and when the current season ends, he will have been involved in 333 productions, more than 50 of them world premieres. He leaves that legacy when he steps down as artistic director in September.
Woodhouse has overseen major artistic and community accomplishments. Conceived as a place that is home to a wide range of artists and companies, San Diego REP has managed the Lyceum since 1986 as San Diego’s Cultural Town Hall, hosting runs and one night events of theatre, music, dance, magic, stand up comedy, jazz and much much more. The REP was a leader in the renaissance of Downtown San Diego in the 80s and 90s with their work at the Lyceum.
One of Woodhouse’s most artistically ambitious and personally satisfying artistic experiences was directing “The Threepenny Opera” in 2009. A sexy, political “in your face” musical, the Brecht and Weill masterwork challenged audiences, even upsetting some. The REP didn’t flinch. This was the year after the Great Recession. America was reeling.
“Threepenny was a leap because the work is flawed, mischievous and elusive — postmodern before postmodern existed,” said Woodhouse.
TOP PHOTO: Sam Woodhouse signs with his motto: “Be Forever Curious.” (Photo courtesy of The REP)
Legislation proposal would crack down
on employers that exploit workers. Will it help?
By Melissa Montalvo | CalMatters
Fresno Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula introduced a new bill that would establish a labor trafficking unit within Cal/OSHA to investigate and prosecute people who force or coerce vulnerable people into jobs with little or no pay, often under unsafe working conditions.
The bill is cosponsored by the Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Policy Initiative at Loyola Law School.
“We must establish a Labor Trafficking Unit to help stop this cruel and inhumane treatment of workers who only want to make a living and provide for their families,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “For the first time, California would have a unit specifically assigned to investigate and prosecute unscrupulous perpetrators.”
The bill authors said that, while the state has primarily directed its efforts and attention to sex trafficking over the years, there has been no coordinated effort focused on labor trafficking.
If the bill passes, the unit would reside under the California Department of Industrial Relations as a subdivision of Cal/OSHA and would investigate and prosecute complaints alleging labor trafficking.
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for 124-unit
transit-oriented ShoreLINE housing development
Affirmed Housing and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System officials presided at groundbreaking ceremonies for a 24-unit, transit-oriented affordable housing project at the Grantville Trolley Station on Alvarado Canyon Road in San Diego.
The new, five-story ShoreLINE building features 124 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for households earning 30 – 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Residential units and laundry facilities are located on every level, and the ground floor includes parking, bike storage, office space for property management, and community room with gathering space, a computer lab and a kitchen.
Residents also have access to an expansive 5,800-square-foot courtyard, outdoor gardens and gathering spaces with built-in seating, an enclosed tot lot play area and a barbecue station. Access to the building will be monitored 24/7 and restricted to residents only. Designed to encourage pedestrian and bike activity, the new development features a 26-foot-wide paseo that leads to the main entrance and several paths through and around the building connect to the trolley/bus station.
Governor announces $312 million for new clean
California projects to beautify public spaces
As part of his landmark $1.1 billion Clean California initiative, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the award of $311.7 million for 126 beautification projects along the state highway system – with 98 percent of the projects benefiting historically underserved or excluded communities.
Ten of the projects are in San Diego County.
Designed to foster cultural connections and civic pride, the projects are expected to generate 3,600 jobs as part of the multiyear initiative led by Caltrans to remove trash and beautify community gateways and public areas along highways, streets and roads while creating thousands of jobs for Californians.
Developed in close collaboration with tribal and local governments, nonprofits and businesses, the 126 state beautification projects will be completed in 47 of California’s 58 counties, including art installations, green space and proposals that improve safety and promote community connections. Construction will begin in April 2022, a full list of the projects can be found here.
Medical Oncology Associates become
partners with OneOncology
Medical Oncology Associates of San Diego and OneOncology, the national platform for independent community oncology practices, announced the two organizations have finalized agreements to become partners.
MOASD is the second practice in Southern California to join the OneOncology platform. Leveraging expertise, capital and technology, OneOncology and MOASD plan an aggressive growth strategy adding physicians, expanding access to cancer care services and strengthening relationships with hospital partners.
Medical Oncology Associates of San Diego was founded by Fred Saleh, M.D. nearly 40 years ago. The practice currently has seven full-time medical oncologists. The practice’s main 9,000-square foot clinic with 20 infusion chairs is on the campus of Sharp Memorial Hospital. They also have offices adjacent to Alvarado Hospital, Sharp Coronado Hospital and Scripps Mercy Hospital.
Hello Auto Group opens new Mazda
dealership in San Diego
Hello Auto Group has opened a new Mazda dealership in Kearny Mesa. The dealership and service center are the first Hello Auto location in the city.
This is the third Mazda dealership for Hello Auto Group. They will be operating the new San Diego Mazda out of the existing brick and mortar dealership and nearby service center. They will be breaking ground on a new, state-of-the art building on the property in spring 2022.
“Buying a car should be fun,” said Idaliz Maldonado, general manager. “We’re overjoyed to be able to build our small, community-based dealership group from the ground up – supported by our core values of being genuine, honest, respectful and fair. We’ve built our business around an information-rich, shopper-driven approach that puts customers in the driver’s seat.”
Hello Auto Group launched their innovative dealership group in 2019. They currently operate a total of five dealerships throughout the state of California: Kia of Valencia, Mazda of Valencia, Subaru of Temecula, Mazda of Temecula and Mazda of San Diego.
Solana Beach receives funds for sand replenishment
The city of Solana Beach will be receiving federal funds to help fix the storm drain damage occurring on the beaches. This 30.5 million dollar fund will help replenish the beaches and stop the harmful erosion occurring on the beaches. The goal is to help widen and thicken the existing beaches and add around 700,000 cubic yards of sand along the 7,200 foot strip of land.
Encinitas will also be apart of this beach repairment and will have 340,000 cubic yards of sand being added to their 7,800 feet of land. Officials say this will greatly benefit the community and help maintain our beloved coastal lifestyle.
New state effort to help businesses
with COVID-19 regulations
San Diego North EDC recently received a grant to help spread the word out about a new Employer Portal, allowing California employers to quickly find up-to-date state and local county COVID-19 guidance by business industry and geography.
Built by the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, once users answer a few questions about a business, the site will generate a tailored “road map” of relevant information, links to resources specific for each business, and information about employee benefits, paid sick leave and immediate steps to take in the event of a COVID-19 case at work. The portal can be accessed at SaferAtWork.Ca.Gov.
County water officials approve and move
forward with PLA negotiation
The San Diego Water County Board has decided to lower the cost of construction projects which affects how the water agency will award contract bids. In a union meeting, the agreement was to lower the cost from $100 million dollars to just $1 million dollars. This change was to make sure that hopefully all future construction plans will be a part of the project labor agreement.
UC San Diego Health first to offer Vektor
Medical’s vMap for cardiac ablation mapping
Vektor Medical Inc. announced the University of California, San Diego Health (UCSD) as the first hospital system in the world to offer its recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – cleared vMap.
vMap is the first technology that identifies potential arrhythmia source locations wheart in less than three minutes using only 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) data. The company is rolling out the technology at select cardiovascular centers of excellence across the country over the coming year before making it more widely available.
vMap is designed to quickly, easily, and non-invasively map arrhythmia sources associated with stable or unstable arrhythmias in all four chambers of the heart, the septal wall, and the outflow tracts. The system has demonstrated success in identifying arrhythmia sources for a wide variety of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.
