Your Daily Business Report: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022
Physicist receives $12.6 million from
Department of Energy to continue
exploring next-generation computing
By Michelle Franklin
The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes. The second, transistors and the third, integrated circuits. Each new generation allowed computers to be faster, smaller and more energy efficient. Now, as the world stretches beyond the limits of integrated circuits, what does the fourth generation of computing look like?
The answer may lie with quantum materials that are able to achieve neuromorphic, or brain-like, computing capabilities with low energy consumption. Since 2018, Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C) — led by the University of California San Diego — has been at the forefront of this research. Now, through a highly competitive process, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $12.6 million in renewed funding for the center.
“This additional round of funding is a testament to the Department of Energy’s faith in the work Q-MEEN-C is doing,” stated UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “The center embodies many of our guiding principles of collaboration and leading-edge research. This achievement not only reflects positively on the researchers, but also the Department of Physics and the entire university.”
Q-MEEN-C is a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) — one of more than 40 created to help tackle the world’s most pressing energy technology challenges. The center, led by UC San Diego, is a collaborative effort that brings together researchers from around the globe. They each bring unique expertise to a compelling scientific challenge: creating a brain-like computer with drastically lower energy requirements.
Top photo: Credit: iStock
State puts lipstick on its porcine IT project
By Dan Walters | CalMatters
The state government’s chronic inability to employ high technology in a timely and cost-effective manner is nowhere more evident than in a project called “Financial Information System for California.” That awkward title was devised so that it could be called by the catchy title of “FI$Cal,” but by whatever moniker, the effort to create a single program for managing state finances has been nothing but trouble, consuming nearly two decades of political and bureaucratic time and costing taxpayers at least $1 billion. The Legislature has been frustrated by the project’s sorry record and as the June deadline approached, both legislative houses voted for more oversight. They passed a bill requiring detailed annual reports on the number and length of unplanned outages and changes to make FI$Cal function well enough to comply with federal requirements.
For the rest of Dan Walters’ commentary, click here
San Diego International Airport to receive $110 million
in grants for new Terminal 1 airfield improvements
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved $110 million in funding to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for airfield improvements related to the construction of a new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport. Those funds will be available to the Airport Authority through FAA grants over a 10-year period.
The grant will help pay for a series of airfield improvements, including new, redesigned taxiways and additional aircraft parking spots that will help reduce aircraft taxiing times, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The airport’s New T1 project will replace the current Terminal 1 with a modern and efficient facility that will improve the airport experience and complete the transformation of San Diego’s air transportation gateway. The first phase of the New T1 project is set to be completed in 2025 with the project’s full completion anticipated in late 2028.
“The FAA’s investment helps the airport and our passengers by allowing for more efficient operations from the minute they arrive to the minute the depart,” said Kimberly Becker, Airport Authority president and CEO. “The Airport Authority team was able to demonstrate to the FAA that the airfield improvements project will provide significant enhancements and allow us to continue serving the region’s air service needs. We appreciate the support of the FAA.”
Angry Bill Walton calls for Mayor Gloria
to resign over ‘out-of-control’ homeless
By Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego
An angry Bill Walton, the legendary basketball star and San Diego booster, on Tuesday called for Mayor Todd Gloria’s resignation over an “out-of-control” homeless population.
“I have challenged Todd Gloria to prove me wrong. I have given him every opportunity,” said the 69-year-old UCLA and NBA champion at a press conference.
Walton said he had been harassed, chased and attacked while riding his bike in Balboa Park near a large homeless encampment he dubbed “Gloriaville.”
“Things are worse now that ever before. Our lives are being dictated by a large and unruly homeless population,” he said. “We want the homeless population off the streets, out of the parks, off the sidewalks and bike paths.”
He said he has repeatedly raised the issue privately with Gloria and decided it was time to go public because “to Todd Gloria, we don’t count.”
Gloria is on a trade mission to the Netherlands, but his director of communications, Rachel Laing, criticized the press conference for advancing what she called “self-aggrandizing hyperbole and outright lies.”
San Diego small businesses pitch for Dutch investment
as part of Mayor Todd Gloria trade mission
As part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s trade mission to the Netherlands, coordinated by World Trade Center San Diego, local small businesses pitched their technology solutions to potential international partners and investors. Trabus Technologies and Nano PharmaSolutions, both San Diego-based, minority-owned small businesses, joined the three-day trip to establish business relationships, pursue investment, and grow local jobs.
Small businesses—those with fewer than 100 employees—are the backbone of the regional economy and drive regional economic growth and innovation. Small businesses employ more than 60 percent of San Diego County’s workforce, nearly double the national average, and represent nearly 98 percent of the region’s firms. Yet small companies face outsize barriers to international expansion.
“Having an economy driven by small, innovative companies has been great for San Diego, and we want to support their expansion into overseas markets so they can stay strong and competitive in their industries,” said Gloria. “This trade mission gives us the chance to lay that groundwork for small businesses that face headwinds overseas.
City of San Diego to open application
process for short-term rental licenses
Starting Monday at noon, individuals can apply for a short-term residential occupancy (STRO) license to operate a dwelling unit in the City of San Diego for short-term rentals. The STRO license will be required starting on May 1, 2023.
The STRO Ordinance, approved by the San Diego City Council and California Coastal Commission, provides guidelines for short-term rentals of less than one month. These guidelines include a requirement for hosts to obtain a license and establish a cap on the number of licenses granted for whole-home rentals operating more than 20 days per year.
An individual will be able to apply for one of the following four STRO license tiers: Part-Time, Home Sharing, Whole-Home and Mission Beach Whole Home. These new regulations are expected to return more housing into the market.
Before beginning the application process, individuals must possess an active Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and ensure all Rental Unit Business Taxes are in active paid status. In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the City’s STRO webpage and complete the STRO Application checklist before Oct. 3.
General Atomics partners with 3rdiTech
for cutting-edge semiconductor technologies
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has partnered with Indian start-up 3rdiTech, a company that develops next generation computer chips, integrated circuits, and other semiconductor technologies,to co-develop state-of-the-art products for the Indian and global market.
“General Atomics is delighted to announce a strategic partnership with 3rdiTech,” said Vivek Lall, chief executive of General Atomics Global Corporation. “Semiconductors are going to be the defining technology of this era. The team and capability being developed at 3rdiTech are representative of the new India under Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s leadership.”
General Atomics will work with 3rdiTech, one of the inaugural winners of the Indian Ministry of Defence’s flagship iDEX Program, to transition this cutting-edge capability onto some of India’s platforms.
Rental subsidy program approved
for older low-income San Diegans
The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to establish a rental subsidy pilot program for seniors who are at risk of becoming homeless.
The Pilot Shallow Rental Subsidy Program will provide a monthly rental subsidy of $500, paid directly to the landlord of a low-income senior San Diegan. Each subsidy will be paid for up to 18 months. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 55 years old and the head of household. The applicant’s household income may not exceed 50 percent of the area median income, and the household must be severely rent-burdened, which is defined as paying more than 50 percent of household income towards housing.
During the pilot program, preference will be given to applicants 60 years or older whose income is at or below 30 percent of the area median income and to seniors who live in a Health Equity area of the county.
The application window will open by the beginning of next year and rental subsidies will be paid starting in March of 2023.
San Diego Press Club to present
49th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards
The 49th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards honoring journalism and public relations professionals in San Diego County will be presented Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Balboa Park, sponsored by the San Diego Press Club. The 5:30 p.m. event will be on the lawns among the International Houses.
The event will include the election of Press Club board of directors and officers, Wild Card Category winner, Body of Work Category winner and Best of Show awards.
Special Awards:
Harold Keen Award: Steve Fiorina
Andy Mace Award: Jorge D’Garay
Jim Reiman Award: Brad McLellan
Click here to see the list of winners.
McCullough Landscape Architecture
relocates to historic Design Center in Hillcrest
McCullough Landscape Architecture has relocated its offices to the historic Design Center at 3605-B Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest. The building was designed by architectural giant Lloyd Ruocco, who designed over 150 projects in San Diego and is credited with pioneering the post-war modern architectural movement in San Diego.
McCullough’s move to the Design Center will allow the firm to grow, and be part of an effort to honor Ruocco’s legacy by transforming the building into an epicenter of design-based organizations.
Built in 1949, the Design Center served as Ruocco’s studio, along with the studio and showrooms of his wife, an interior designer and professor. The couple also brought other artists and designers to the Design Center, helping shape the region’s art scene. The City of San Diego named the Design Center a Historical Resource Site nine years after Ruocco’s death in 1981. Like many of Ruocco’s designs, the Design Center is primarily redwood and glass, with a flat roof, floor-to-ceiling windows, and decks overlooking the canyon. The building reflects Ruocco’s focus on harmonizing the built environment with the outdoors.
Workforce Partnerships opens career centers across county
The San Diego Workforce Partnership is providing career center services directly, instead of outsourcing to a third-party operator as they have done for many years. There are many community benefits to this transition, including enhancing services and job placement for job seekers. The six career centers offer access to job training, upskilling, education and job placement, at no cost to San Diego County job seekers. Moving services in-house highlights theWorkforce Partnership’s commitment to providing job seekers with a high-quality customer service experience and easier access to its breadth of programs and services.
Career centers will now offer virtual evening appointments and increased bilingual staff, in addition to existing services like job interview preparation and helping clients identify their ideal career. They have also removed membership requirements, enabling easier access to services for job seekers.
Click here for the location of the six career centers.
Cantor Rebecca Joy Fletcher joins Coastal Roots Farm
Cantor Rebecca Joy Fletcher has joined Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas as its first director of Jewish life. Fletcher is an ordained cantor, Jewish educator, professional actor, climate activist and coach. She was ordained through Hebrew Union College where she also completed a master’s degree in Sacred Music.
Fletcher recently relocated from Chicago to North County. In her new role, she will oversee the Farm’s Jewish Life initiative by integrating Jewish wisdom, tradition, and values into community programs and communications, outreach to Jewish and interfaith communities.
Most recently, Fletcher offered embodied leadership and climate change coaching to individuals and organizations through her company, The Fletcher Studio.
For eight years prior, she served as The ARK’s director of experiential Jewish education where she curated experiences and led workshops.
City Tacos sells its 3 millionth taco
City Tacos, a Mexican eatery founded by Gerry Torres in North Park in 2014, last week surpassed 3 million tacos sold in San Diego County. The milestone comes in his ninth year in business. City Tacos currently has six San Diego locations: East Village (Ballpark), Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Pacific Beach, and Sorrento Valley. With roughly 3.3 million people in the county, the milestone averages to nearly one taco per resident. National Taco Day is next Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Torres is originally from Mexico City and he moved to San Diego in 1992. This past June he became a United States citizen in a ceremony held at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown.
“I just happened to stumble across this fun milestone while going through my records,” Torres said. “While I certainly can’t say that all San Diegans have had a City Taco taco, I am proud that my vision and passion has extended to nearly the same number as the population here.”
SeaWorld San Diego to offer straddle coaster in 2023
SeaWorld San Diego is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated coaster, Arctic Rescue, will open in spring 2023. Joining other thrill rides at the theme park, Arctic Rescue will be the longest and fastest straddle coaster on the West Coast. This family-friendly multi-launch ride invites guests to hop on a snowmobile and launch at up to 40 mph on a chilly adventure as they race through the unpredictable arctic climate to help animals in danger. With its 48-inch height requirement, adventure seekers of all ages will enjoy the thrills and chills of Arctic Rescue.
Airgain releases enhanced fixed wireless access antennas
Airgain Inc. a San Diego company providing wireless connectivity solutions, including embedded components, external antennas, and integrated systems, announced the introduction of its directional fixed wireless access (FWA) antennas. These FWA antennas significantly advance the future of indoor and outdoor 5G connectivity.
While most FWA antennas on the market are designed to be omnidirectional and prioritize simplicity over performance, Airgain focuses on operator-specific frequency band antennas that provide a significant improvement in speed and connectivity. These customized antennas are unique in their architecture and have been tested over the air using state-of-the-art testing equipment for superior performance.
