Daily Business Report: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022
Hope and prayer: California
churches battle abortion ballot measure
By Alexei Koseff | CalMatters
In Summary:
Religious opponents of abortion, led by the Catholic Church, are mobilizing against Proposition 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot. But the numbers in fundraising and in the polls are against them.
From the pulpit of the bright and airy Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, Father Bao Thai delivered a homily on a recent Sunday morning, urging his congregation to vote against Proposition 1,a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that would enshrine the right to abortion in California’s constitution.
“A steward is entrusted to care for the master’s property until his return,” he preached. “What precious goods has the creator placed in our care? Do they include the innocent and sacred lives of the unborn and children to be born?”
A few weeks earlier, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Pacifica, two congregants spoke at weekend masses to ask attendees to support the campaign against the “harmful” Prop. 1 with prayers, fasting and money.
Bishops and other clergy from California’s dozen Catholic dioceses and archdioceses have released videos to speak directly to the faithful, sometimes in multiple languages, about their concerns that the initiative would remove all existing restrictions on abortion in the state.
Top photo: Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills speaks during a press conference and rally denouncing an abortion access bill at the state Capitol in Sacramento on April 19, 2022. (Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatter)
Illumina upgraded to Outperform by SVB Securities
by genomeweb
SVB Securities on Tuesday upgraded its rating for Illumina to Outperform, with a new price target of $270, based on expectations for the new NovaSeq X instrument line. The new NovaSeq X Plus should be “the instrument of choice as both the clinical and research end-markets pivot from panels and exomes to whole genomes, while the backdrop of minimal residual disease and cancer screening samples only grows,” Puneet Souda, senior research analyst at SVB, wrote in a note to investors. “We see [NovaSeq] X Plus catalyzing this transition over the next three to four years and driving a pull thru of $1.5 million to $1.8 million, with strong X Plus installs replacing the existing 1,500 high-volume NovaSeq 6000 and bringing in new customers.”
The upgrade comes right after the inaugural Illumina Genomics Forum last week, where the company provided information on XLeap-SBS, a new sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry. Illumina also held an investor day on Monday.“Though Illumina still lacks a permanent CFO and questions about prior execution are likely to linger with 2023 being a transition year for the new product launch, we see an improving outlook where the precise entry point would be hard to time,” Souda said. “We also see higher likelihood of Grail’s divestiture based on management comments from the investor day.”
In Tuesday morning trading on the Nasdaq, shares of Illumina rose 9 percent to $204.32.
Voter information pamphlets
go out for November general election
Voter information pamphlets are on the way to San Diego County’s 1.9 million registered voters for the Nov. 8 Statewide General Election. If your voter registration is up to date, the Registrar of Voters office says you should receive the pamphlet by Oct. 7.
The pamphlet contains important election information such as voting options, election deadlines, candidate statements and more. It also includes a sample of your official ballot. You may use the sample ballot to practice making your selections before marking your official ballot.
Ballots will start going out in the mail to all active registered voters on Oct. 8. Voters can find a list of ballot drop box and vote center locations inside their voter information pamphlet. Voters can also see their pamphlet online.
If you signed up to get your voter information pamphlet electronically, you should have received an email giving you the same information and a link to your pamphlet.
Dr. Jone Flanders joins Physician Retraining
and Reentry Inc. as senior medical advisor
Physician Retraining and Reentry Inc., a San Diego-based program that educates and trains physicians to practice as primary care doctors, has hired Dr. Jone Flanders as senior medical advisor.
Flanders’ extensive clinical, health care management and medical boards experience bolsters all aspects of PRR. She will lend her expertise on curriculum, outreach and, importantly, ways that PRR participants can leverage their primary care training.
A cardiologist, Flanders was the chief of inpatient medicine services at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.
She serves as treasurer and fellow to the Federation of State Medical Boards and is former chair of the Hawaii State Board of Medical Examiners.
“Dr. Flanders’ deep understanding of the health care industry is valuable to PRR and its participants, since we’re all working together toward the shared goal of building the primary care physician workforce,” said PRR CEO Thomas DeRosa.
David Chung joins Gafcon as senior vice president
San Diego-based Gafcon Inc. has appointed David Chung as senior vice president of health care, a newly created position designed to expand the firm’s endeavors in the health care market sector.
Chung has more than 25 years of health care development and construction management experience, having managed billions of dollars in projects for health care facilities nationwide.
He will be based out of the firm’s Los Angeles corporate office.
Chung’s expertise includes planning, design, construction management, financial modeling, acquisitions, dispositions, entitlements, portfolio management and complex negotiations.
Over 1 million property tax bills mailed to taxpayers
The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office has started mailing more than 1 million 2022-2023 secured property tax bills.All 1,011,364 secured tax bills are available now at sdttc.com to view and pay. Property owners can pay online free using an e-check (electronic check). Taxpayers will also get an immediate, emailed receipt for payment confirmation if they use the online payment system at sdttc.com. The first property tax installment is due on November 1, 2022 and becomes delinquent after December 10, 2022. The second installment is due February 1, 2023 and becomes delinquent after April 11, 2023. The total amount owed by property taxpayers is $500 million more than last year’s total of $7.56 billion
Epsilon Systems Solutions gets $22 million Navy contract
Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc. of San Diego was awarded a $22 million contract provide a full range of technical and repair support services for the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center’s Product Family divisions. Work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,110,507 was obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, is the contracting activity.
Palomar Health introduces a 24/7 Nurse Advice Line
Palomar Health has introduced a new Nurse Advice Line that will provide access to professional nursing advice and support anywhere, anytime. The Nurse Advice Line connects the community to experienced registered nurses to listen to every caller’s needs and offer more treatment guidance and options. Members of the community, regardless of whether they have been a Palomar Health patient in the past, can now call the Nurse Advice Line, 1-877-PH-RN-411 (1-877-747-6411), to receive immediate, personalized nursing advice that is guided by evidence-based guidelines and protocols, based on the caller’s symptoms.
Maravai LifeSciences announces CEO leadership change
Maravai LifeSciences Inc. a provider of life science reagents and services to researchers and biotech innovators, has appointed William “Trey” Martin III as its chief executive officer. Martin comes to Maravai most recently from Danaher Corporation, where he was the senior vice president of new business, genomic medicine. Maravai’s first CEO and co-founder Carl Hull will directly supportMartin during this leadership transition and will remain with Maravai as executive chairman of the board where he will continue to guide the company’s long-term strategy.
Rady Children’s, PlumCare RWE
partner to expand genome screening
Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, a research institute embedded within Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center, said that it has teamed up with health care data company PlumCare RWE to expand its whole-genome sequencing-based newborn screening program to Greece. Under the collaboration, Rady Children’s and PlumCare will establish the first international site for BeginNGS, a pilot program to screen newborns for hundreds of genetic diseases with known treatment options using rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS), in Greece.
HomeAid San Diego hosts
STEP Up! Walk to end homelessness
HomeAid San Diego, a nonprofit organization working to provide services to mitigate the homelessness crisis in San Diego County, is holding its fourth annual STEP UP! Walk to End Homelessness on Nov. 13, 2022. This yearly event is a 5k run or walk that raises money to fund HomeAid’s work to provide resources and support to people impacted by homelessness as we fight to address the housing crisis in San Diego. Taking place in person at De Anza Code in Mission Bay Park, the event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For those who are unable to attend in person, the event will also continue from Nov. 14-20 as a virtual 5k in locations throughout the country. Click here to register.
Rancho San Diego Towne Center to add Kung Fu Tea
Rancho San Diego Towne Center, a lifestyle shopping center in El Cajon, announced the addition of Kung Fu Tea, one of the country’s largest made-to-order bubble tea brands. The new 1,300-square-foot Kung Fu Tea, expected to open at Rancho San Diego Towne Center this winter, will be located between Supercuts and Navy Federal Credit Union.
City of San Diego launches Digital Navigator program
To celebrate National Digital Inclusion Week and continue efforts to close the digital divide that leaves an estimated 53,000 San Diegans without internet access, the City of San Diego formally launched a new Digital Navigator program and helpline to provide free, one-on-one computer and technology support to those in need. San Diegans can call the toll-free Digital Navigator helpline at 1-800-350-6945 to get assistance accessing technology or to make an in-person appointment. Navigators also provide in-person assistance during select hours at various locations, including City libraries and recreation centers.
San Diego selected to host NCAAW Invitational
The National Collegiate Athletic Association – Women has selected San Diego to host the 2022 NCAAW San Diego Invitational. The 2022 semifinals and championship game will be played on Dec. 20 and 21 at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Hosted by Destination Basketball, the NCAAW San Diego Invitational is an early-season Division 1 women’s college basketball tournament. The event will feature Arkansas, Ohio State, Oregon, and South Florida facing off to win the championship title. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m., Arkansas will take on Oregon in the first match while Ohio State and South Florida compete in the second match at 3:30p.m.. The losing teams will face off on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 1p.m and the winning teams will compete for the championship title at 3:30 p.m..
Rental apartments for low-income seniors breaks ground
An empty dirt lot in San Ysidro is getting a new purpose as an affordable housing community with rental apartments for 100 seniors with low income, including 25 for seniors who have experienced homelessness, a transformation made possible through collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC). Developed by MAAC and Kingdom Development, Ventana al Sur’s rental apartments, a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units, will remain affordable for 55 years for seniors with income up to 50 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income, currently $52,050 for a two-person household. The development also includes one manager’s unit.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa
receives best affordable housing award
Chelsea Investment Corporation was awarded “Best Affordable Housing Community of the Year” for the development of Saint Teresa of Calcutta in partnership with Father Joe’s Villages. The grand opening of Saint Teresa was held on Feb. 10, 2022. BIA San Diego created the awards program to recognize its members for their contributions to the community, the building industry, and the association. Chelsea’s Saint Teresa of Calcutta was among five finalists nominated for the award. The awards were presented to the winners at a dinner held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Southwestern College expands remote fast-track courses
The fall semester is already under way at Southwestern College, but students will now be able to register for an expanded selection of in-person and remote fast-track courses. The classes, which kick off on Oct. 17, will allow students to reach their educational goals faster.
Fast-track classes allow students to complete an entire course in an accelerated, eight-week format. This fall semester, there are more than 200 fast-track classes available – a significant expansion compared to 2021. The available courses cover everything from early child development to general education classes, such as communication and psychology.
