Daily Business Report: Monday, April 25, 2022
How California created the nation’s easiest abortion access
And why it’s poised to go further
by Kristen Hwang | CalMaters
By this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a decision on the most consequential challenge to Roe v. Wade since the landmark ruling in 1973 guaranteed the constitutional right to obtain an abortion.
If federal abortion protections are eliminated or severely weakened— as legal experts expect — a cascade of absolute bans will follow in more than a dozen states. Already, six more states are considering so-called “trigger bans” in the lead-up to this summer’s decision, while dozens of other state legislatures are considering 15-week bans, abortion pill bans and bans modeled after Texas’ controversial law that allows private citizens to sue anyone who helps someone obtain an abortion after six weeks.
California lawmakers intend to buck the trend. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to make the state a “sanctuary” for out-of-state abortion seekers — even proposing to use state funds to defray their travel costs. He’s already signed into law a measure eliminating out-of-pocket costs for Californians. The state Legislative Women’s Caucus has also introduced a 13-bill package to further cut barriers to access and protect patient and provider rights.
But the state wasn’t always a bastion for reproductive choice. It took decades of black market abortions, a national rubella epidemic, an international drug scandal, several high-profile trials against physicians, and thousands of maternal deaths for California to decriminalize abortion
Top Photo: California protesters hold signs backing abortion rights during a march in Los Angeles in 2021. (Photo by Elsa Seignol, REUTERS)
San Diego’s first low-cost ‘pod’ hotel in jeopardy
Port considera using site for airport transit center
A novel project that promised to deliver deeply discounted lodging near the coast via hundreds of comfy sleeping pods drew high praise three years ago when it won the unanimous support of San Diego Port Commissioners. “I love the concept,” said one commissioner. “I’m really excited about this,” enthused another.
Now the development — which port officials sought in a competitive bidding process — is in jeopardy as the agency pursues another priority proposed for the same site — a transit center that would include a first-ever people mover link to the San Diego airport.
Stay Open, the Los Angeles-based developer that was chosen to develop budget lodging on the Pacific Highway site where the port has its administrative offices, says it finds itself in limbo after spending $400,000 on designing a project that port officials specifically requested.
Judge won’t halt ‘Free TurboTax’ ads
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on Friday rejected a Federal Trade Commission request to block Intuit from further advertising its TurboTax Free Edition, which the agency labeled deceptive and harmful to consumers. A day after hearing arguments on the popular software, Breyer denied the FTC’s motion for emergency relief — a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against Intuit of Mountain View. FTC representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
30-year journalism veteran Deanna Mackey
appointed general manager for KPBS
Deanna Mackey, an executive leader and journalist with more than 30 years of experience, has been appointed to serve as general manager for KPBS. Overseeing a unit of about 180 staff, Mackey will hold leadership responsibility for operating and capital budgets of more than $37 million.
She will replace Associate General Manager Nancy Worlie, who has served as general manager on an interim basis. Worlie will continue as interim until Mackey assumes the role on June 30.
As general manager, and the first Latina to serve in the role, Mackey will oversee KPBS, which includes KPBS TV (four channels), Radio 89.5 and 97.7 and the organization’s digital platforms.
Mackey will lead KPBS in efforts that continue to expand its visibility, growth and the many meaningful contributions the organization provides to our community and to our collective knowledge.
Mackey first began working at KPBS in 1985 as an editorial assistant while attending SDSU.
She left in 1987 to serve as editor of The Daily Aztec, the university’s student-run newspaper.
Poll workers needed for June 7 Gubernatorial Primary
The Registrar of Voters is seeking poll workers for the June 7 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Poll workers play an essential role in elections and can serve their community while earning $15 per hour.
With the introduction of the Voter’s Choice Act, voter centers replace traditional polling places. Vote centers are open throughout the county for an extended period before Election Day. Rather than a single day of service, poll workers are now needed to staff vote centers up to 11 days in the two weeks before Election Day.
English speakers who are bilingual in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese or Chinese are also needed.
To become a poll worker, applicants must be 18 years old, a U.S citizen and registered to vote in California, or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. Applicants must also provide their own transportation to their assigned vote center.
Applications are available online.
Eyewear manufacturer acquires San Marcos
office building for $2.25 million
Happy Potamus Holdings LLC. has acquired a 6,496-square-foot freestanding single-story office building located at 1890 Diamond St. in San Marcos for $2.25 million. Happy Potamus Holdings, LLC, which manufactures Roshambo Baby Sunglasses, will use the building for corporate offices. JLL’s Chris Baumgart and Steven Field represented the seller, L.C. Meadows LLC. Happy Potamus Holdings, LLC was represented by Hank Jenkins of Colliers.
Built in 2001, the building offers an open layout, light industrial zoning, 4/1,000 parking and walking distance to retail amenities.
Professional interior designers offer
in-home design consultations
During May and June, members of the American Society of Interior Designers San Diego chapter will conduct in-home design consultations during the ASID “Spring Spruce Up” fundraiser. The fee of $99 per hour (minimum one hour/maximum two hours) is a donation to the local ASID chapter; the designer volunteers his/her time.
“Spruce Up gives consumers who may have never worked with a professional interior designer an easy, affordable, and stress-free introduction,” said Arnaz Khambatta of Good Deeds Design, the event chair.
ASID can provide experts in all areas of design, including space planning, staging, color selection, kitchen design, aging in place, art and furniture placement, outdoor rooms, historic preservation, media rooms, multigenerational living, universal design, window treatments and commercial design. Designers are individually selected to meet each client’s specific needs.
To arrange for a designer to come to your home, call 858-566-3345 or email administrator@casd.asid.org. All appointments are prepaid.
San Diego selected as one of 10
nationwide inclusive Innovation Hubs
The Brink Small Development Center at University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business is among 10 newly designated Inclusive Innovation Hubs by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. The designation provides The Brink with a $250,000 grant to create a three-year strategy for extra support for people of color, LGBYQ+, veteran and women entrepreneurs.
Local entities opt into San Diego Community Power
The San Diego International Airport, Sharp Healthcare, Illumina, Flock Freight and most recently Petco Park have opted in for San Diego Community Power’s Power 100 Champion program. The Community Choice Aggregation program delivers carbon-free electricity through existing SDG&E lines, reducing users’ carbon footprit and further positioning Sasn Diego as a global leader in environmental sustainability.
Carlsmed raises $30 million for spine surgery tech
Medical device startup Carlsmed has just raised $30 million in VC to drive its digital platform for personalized, 3-D spinal implants to improve the success rate of back surgeries. The Carlsbad-based company has developed a machine learning technology that taps a patient’s X-ray and CT scans to design a digital surgical plan to achieve the best spinal alignment.
SD Foundation earmarks $10 million
for affordable housing in region
The San Diego Foundation has given a $10 million grant to the County of San Diego to build 10,000 units of affordable housing throughout the region. Although no site or sites yet have been identified for development, the money will seed a new Housing Impact Fund that The San Diego Foundation hopes will help accelerate the production and preservation of housing.
The county’s plan is to combine available government-owned land, philanthropic resources, state and national funding, developers and homebuilders for the development of the units.
The Housing Impact Fund falls in with The San Diego Foundation’s mission of finding community solutions to improve the quality of life in the region.
U.S. adds more commercial lanes at
Otay Mesa as expansion work continues
Leaders from both sides of the border celebrated improvements at the commercial truck processing area of the Otay Mesa border crossing last week as part of an ongoing expansion project. The number of lanes available to process cargo trucks entering San Diego from Mexico has increased from nine to 16, as a $134 million expansion and modernization project continues. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2023.Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show an increasing number of cargo trucks crossings at Otay Mesa.
Truvian Sciences appoints 4 to leadership
team as it prepares to commercialize
automated benchtop blood-testing system
Truvian Sciences announced four executive appointments that bring expanded industry and commercialization experience to the company as it advances toward submitting for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its automated benchtop blood testing system.
Truvian has appointed Ajay Bansal as chief financial officer, Tyler Jensen as chief product officer, Joe Benson as vice president of strategy and portfolio management, and Eric Zieger as vice president of global sales.
Besides the executive appointments, existing team members Jay Srinivasan has been named chief strategy officer, and co-founder Dena Marrinucci has been named chief scientific officer.
“Truvian is at a pivotal point in our company evolution as we progress towards global regulatory approvals and commercialization of our benchtop blood testing system,” said Jeff Hawkins, president and CEO of Truvian. “The appointments of Ajay, Tyler, Joe and Eric will prove invaluable to Truvian as we accelerate our growth and expansion through the commercialization of our system and make routine testing more convenient and accessible for all.”
Ajay Bansal has served as a chief financial officer at biotechnology companies for nearly 20 years. Most recently, he was CFO and head of business development at Urovant Sciences which was acquired by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma in March 2021.
Tyler Jensen brings more than 25 years of leadership and expertise in engineering and research and development to Truvian. Most recently, Tyler served as senior vice president of engineering and product technical support for GenMark Diagnostics.
Joe Benson has more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences and biopharma industries. Most recently, he served as head of R&D strategy and operations at Arena Pharmaceuticals.
Eric Zieger has more than 15 years of experience as a demonstrated leader in strategic life sciences sales, consistently exceeding sales targets and achieving top sales honors. Prior to Truvian, Eric served as director of strategic and corporate accounts for GenMark Diagnostics.
