Daily Business Report: June 30, 2023
CalMatters Guest Commentary
How California bottle recycling overhaul could
give heaps of landfill money back to consumers
By Liza Tucker | Consumer Advocate for Consumer Watchdog
Californians pay about $1.5 billion in recycling deposts every year on beverages from bottled water to beer. But less than 1 in 4 people bother to redeem the empties – while more than three-quarters lose nickel and dime deposits to curbside bins.
That’s largely because so few redemption centers exist that the state now holds $672 million in unrefunded deposits that really belong to the public.
In California, there is just one redemption center for every 31,000-plus people. Michigan supermarkets put this situation to shame. Each one offers roughly 900 Michiganders redemption service on the spot. In Oregon, both supermarkets and automated depots offer 2,000 consumers apiece the same convenience.
Adding insult to indignity, we forfeit millions of empty containers to waste hauler recycling bins. Those trash haulers bill the state for our California Refund Value, or CRV, while contaminating and landfilling at least a third of those empties.
California enacted a way out of this morass last year with Senate Bill 1013, which was authored by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego. The law finally puts the responsibility for California CRV refunds onto stores that sell the products whose shells become trash. In 2025, major supermarkets and big box stores selling CRV beverages will have to take them back.
Photo: Workers sort through plastic items on a conveyor belt at a GreenWaste recycling facility in San Jose on July 29, 2019. (Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters)
Gubernatorial Appointments
Ilkay Altintas — San Diego
Ilkay Altintas, of San Diego, has been appointed to the Wildfire Technology Research and Development Review Advisory Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Altintas has been a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego since 2001.
She has been division director of cyberinfrastructure and convergence research and education at the San Diego Supercomputer Center since 2021, where she has held several positions since 2014, including chief of staff, director, division director and deputy coordinator.
Altintas earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in computational science from the University of Amsterdam and a Master of Science degree in computer engineering from Middle East Technical University.
This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Altintas is registered without party preference.
Nick Boyd — El Cajon
Nick Boyd of El Cajon has been appointed to the State Board of Behavioral Sciences by the governor. Boyd has been director of clinical training for counseling and lead licensed professional clinical counselor at VA San Diego Health Care since 2020.
He has been a staff therapist for the Cognitive Therapy Institute since 2019. He was a study therapist for VA San Diego Health Care from 2018 to 2020.
Boyd earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology and criminal justice from Portland State University, a Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of San Diego and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in counseling education and supervision from the University of the Cumberlands.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Boyd is a Democrat.
County releases report on gun violence
The County of San Diego released a report that highlights data related to gun violence in San Diego County and outlines recommendations to reduce this violence. The Gun Violence Community Needs Assessment Final Report, authored by Health Assessment and Research for Communities (HARC), includes findings from more than 18 months of work with community and government leaders.
As stated in the report, between 2017-21, over 70 percent of firearm-related deaths in San Diego County were suicide and over 28 percent were homicide.
The report details populations most impacted by firearm-related deaths, injuries, and crimes, including age, race, and geographic location.
A link to the report can be found here.
Realtors organization presents session
on forms, documents used in real estate
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego County’s largest real estate trade group for San Diego-area Realtors, will host an in-person meeting about updates on forms and documents used in real estate transactions from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 6, at the PSAR South County Service Center, 880 Canarios Court, Chula Vista. Admission is free for PSAR members and $20 for nonmembers.
Presenter will be Nikki Coppa, PSAR , Realtor, broker and industry expert. Coppa, who has taught classes attended by PSAR members since 2010, currently serves as the chief compliance officer for her brokerage.
San Diego Investment Map launched
by San Diego Regional EDC
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) launched the San Diego Investment Map, a new digital tool to inform strategic, inclusive growth across the region. As part of EDC’s Inclusive Growth Initiative, the Investment Map provides a first-of-its-kind interactive data tool to support decision making across core facets of the local economy: childcare, middle-income housing, and corporate site selection.
Get the San Diego Investment Map here
Protesters ruin Rancho Peñasquitos library’s
Pride exhibit by checking out nearly all the books
Two protesters offended by a Pride exhibit at the Rancho Peñasquitos Library have checked out nearly all the books in the display and vowed to keep them until the library eliminates what they call “inappropriate content” for children.
The anti-gay protest is the latest example of a growing national backlash against Pride exhibits, which experts say has been fueled by debates over how schools and healthcare systems should handle transgender minors.
The Rancho Peñasquitos protest ratchets up the usual backlash San Diego library branches experience when they create Pride exhibits or host events like drag queen story times, said head librarian Misty Jones.
John Novak named president of ICW
Group Insurance Companies
SAN DIEGO — ICW Group Insurance Companies, a leading group of property and casualty carriers, has promoted John Novak to president, charged with leading the company’s multi-line growth strategy, expanding its value-added service offerings and driving the company’s digital transformation.
Novak, an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in insurance, will continue his role as chief operating officer, championing the organization’s more than 1,000 team members at multiple offices across the nation that serve policyholders and agents.
Bespoke Partners promotes
Ned Lanphier to partner
SAN DIEGO — Bespoke Partners, one of the largest retained executive search and leadership advisory service firms for software companies, announced the promotion of Ned Lanphier to partner, and will lead the firm’s Product and Technology Executive Practice.
Previously serving as senior vice president, Lanphier has been with Bespoke Partners for four years and has been instrumental in building out Bespoke’s technology practice.
The firm has placed more than 200 executives in top technology, product and related operational roles.
Palomar Health partners
with Care Choice Home Care
SAN DIEGO — Palomar Health has entered a strategic partnership with Care Choice Home Care, aimed at expanding private home care services and providing comprehensive care options to patients within the comfort of their own homes. This joint venture reflects Palomar Health’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of patients and delivering compassionate care. Private home care is a non-medical service designed to support individuals, particularly elderly patients, with their day-to-day activities.
Shola Richards named keynote speaker
at Emergency Nursing 2023 convention
SAN DIEGO — Shola Richards will take the stage at Emergency Nursing 2023 as the keynote speaker with a message for emergency nurses focused on improving mental health and well-being, while creating supportive communities that bring out the best in everyone. Richards and his “The Courage to go Together” will be presented at the opening session on Sept. 21 at the San Diego Convention Center. The founder and CEO of Go Together Global, Richards is a best-selling author, workplace civility expert, sought-after speaker and a self-professed “kindness extremist.”
Point Predictive releases groundbreaking
fraud solutions for the lending industry
SAN DIEGO — On the heels of announcing its partnership with Sofi, Point Predictive,
the leader in artificial intelligence fraud solutions for the lending industry, debuted a
groundbreaking API designed exclusively for fintech and lenders. This cutting-edge API revolutionizes the verification process by enabling instant validation of borrowers’ income, employment, and identity risks, covering both first- and third-party fraud. The API enables Fintech and lenders to access unique proprietary data and AI, machine learning scoring for accurate and speedy assessments of borrower first- and third-party risk.
Amplifica announces first-in-human
study of leading candidate for hair loss
SAN DIEGO — Amplifica Holdings Group Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced the initiation of the first-in-human study of its lead candidate AMP-303. The primary objective of this initial study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of AMP-303 along with an assessment on hair count in subjects with androgenetic alopecia. The trial marks a significant milestone in the development of innovative solutions to address the widespread issue of hair loss, which affects millions of men and women worldwide.
Sony Electronics announces free ZV-E1
upgrade to elevate content creation
SAN DIEGO — Sony Electronics announces an upgrade for the ZV-E1, the world’s most compact and lightweight full-frame interchangeable lens camera, offering video creators maximum creative freedom and versatility. The ZV-E1 is designed to offer the ultimate video creation experience. For more information about the ZV-E1 upgrade, visit Sony’s official website
Concert Health announces successful
results of collaborative care partnership
SAN DIEGO — Concert Health, a leading behavioral health medical group, announced results from a program with Mercy Health, one of the largest U.S. health care systems. The partnership provided Mercy Health’s primary care patients with access within 24-48 hours to behavioral health services through the Collaborative Care model (CoCM). With the success of the initial pilot program, Mercy and Concert expanded the program to encompass 150 clinics and 1,300 primary care providers specializing in adult and family medicine, women’s health, and pediatrics across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
Dalrada Corporation executes
corporate restructuring
SAN DIEGO — Dalrada Corporation, an American company focused on global environmental innovations to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, announced the details of its corporate restructuring effort with an increased focus on climate technology. Its new division, Dalrada Climatech, along with the continued success of Dalrada’s health products and services, will accelerate long-term growth and profitability for the company. Dalrada reorganized its board of directors to facilitate the development of its U.S. and global expansion.
Chase expands grant program to even
more Hispanic and Black communities
SAN DIEGO —Chase Home Lending announced the expansion of its $5,000 Homebuyer Grant Program to include additional Hispanic and Black communities in 16 markets, including San Diego. The expansion means that the grant is now available in more than 14,000 communities nationwide. The Chase Homebuyer Grant can be applied toward two of the biggest barriers to homeownership — the upfront cash needed for a down payment and closing costs. Chase first rolled out the $5,000 Homebuyer Grant in 6,700 predominantly Black census tracts across the country in 2021.
