Daily Business Report: July 6, 2023
Visual Capitalist
The Most Popular Fast Food Brands in America
By Avery Koop
Ever since the McDonald brothers created the concept of fast food in 1940, the restaurant’s golden arches have continued to beckon customers to its quick, cheap, and tasty meals.
McDonald’s is still the most popular fast food brand in America today—with $46 billion in systemwide sales last year.
This graphic uses data from a report on America’s top 50 fast food chains by Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Magazine. The popular brands are sized by their 2021 systemwide sales and broken down into six broad categories: Burger, Chicken, Snack, Pizza, Sandwich, and Global.
It’s indisputable that McDonald’s is America’s favorite fast food restaurant, if not the world’s. McDonald’s sales are almost double the second the place restaurant’s, Starbucks —totaling $46 billion compared to the coffee shop’s $24 billion.
Most of the top 20 restaurants are extremely well known, like Chick-fil-A in third place and Taco Bell in fourth. Some of these chains, however, will be unrecognizable depending on which part of the U.S. you live in. While Bojangles is ubiquitous in the Southeast, for example, many on the West Coast may have never heard of it.
Some of the lower ranking restaurants include Shake Shack (#45), White Castle (#50), and the Canadian-founded Tim Hortons (#47).
New measurements suggest tropical
cyclones may influence global climate
By Alex Fox
New research from scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds tropical cyclones cause ocean turbulence that extends deeper than previously thought, causing mixing that transfers heat from the surface to waters nearly 300 meters (roughly 1,000 feet) down.
The researchers suggest that the ocean warming caused by tropical cyclones goes deep enough to persist for months or years and travel far from its point of origin, potentially altering the broader patterns of ocean circulation that partly regulate Earth’s climate.
The study, published June 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, draws its conclusions from direct measurements of ocean turbulence and temperature before and after tropical cyclones. During 60 days aboard a research vessel in the Western Pacific Ocean near the Philippines, scientists observed that the turbulence caused by tropical cyclones persisted for at least three weeks and reverberated down to at least 300 meters (roughly 1,000 feet).
San Diego County unveils a new logo
featuring iconic Administration Building
By Debbie Sklar
There’s a new logo in town.
It’s already appeared on San Diego County’s social media and during budget hearings — the new logo reflecting diverse community input and the county’s values and commitment to service.
It was created by county designers, shaped by public and internal surveys, and focus groups, and selected from more than 100 options by hundreds of people.
Those same people represented more than 150 diverse sectors including education, health care, private business, our employees, and many others.
Collaboration. Connection. Community. Diversity. Sunshine. Beaches. Mountains.
These are just a few of the frequently heard words shared by this group to describe the county of San Diego.
Access. Belonging. Equity. Excellence. Integrity. Sustainability.
The concepts coupled with values at the center of the county of San Diego’s General Management System led to the creation of the winning design.
Why single-payer advocates are split
on how to overhaul health care
By Ana B. Ibarra |CalMatters
For many Californians, the proposal of a state-run single-payer health system remains a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ idea, and odds are it could remain that way, especially if leading advocates can’t agree on how to get there.
Democratic leaders and advocates who are looking to transform the current complex health care system are divided on their approach. On one side, a coalition of health, labor and civil rights advocacy groups is standing behind Senate Bill 770, which seeks an incremental path toward “unified financing,” where a statewide system would pay for health care for all residents. This could be single payer or a similar model. The bill would task a workgroup of experts and consumers to come up with next steps in advancing toward this goal and deliver a report to the Legislature by next June.
SB 770 also calls for the Newsom administration to engage the federal government, which would need to approve such a system in California, on this issue. The bill, authored by San Francisco’s Sen. Scott Wiener, is currently making its way through the Legislature — last week it received the green light from the Assembly Health Committee and is headed to a fiscal committee next.
Another major studio drops
out of San Diego Comic-Con
The hits keep coming for Comic-Con International as another Hollywood studio has decided to skip. Warner Bros.-owned DC — rival to Marvel Studios, which is not coming this year — will also bow out. The studio that produces Batman and Superman films was initially thought by some to take advantage of Marvel’s absence.
James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, responded to a fan’s question on Instagram Saturday that he would not be at Comic-Con this year but probably in 2024. Additionally, DC has released its initial schedule for the convention, which leaves off a big Hall H appearance.
How T cells could fight
many coronaviruses at once
By Madeline McCurry-Schmidt | Science Writer
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) are investigating how the immune system’s T cells react to a wide variety of coronaviruses, ranging from SARS to common cold coronaviruses. Their goal is to guide the development of vaccines that could halt future pandemic by combatting many types of coronaviruses at once.
“While it was recognized that coronaviruses were potentially dangerous viruses, because of SARSCoV and MERS viruses causing very severe disease in humans, nobody knew that the next pandemic was going to be caused by SARS-CoV-2,” says LJI Professor Alessandro Sette. “So the issue now is how can we develop strategies that are broadly applicable to different viral families of concern?”
In their latest collaboration, published in Cell Reports Medicine, Sette and LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, show that T cells can recognize several different viral targets, called “antigens,” shared between most coronaviruses, including common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. They also looked more in-depth at what fragments of these antigens, called “epitopes,” are recognized and how conserved they are across different coronaviruses.
Daily passport appointments increased
from 12 to 40 per day at City Clerk’s Office
SAN DIEGO —The San Diego Office of the City Clerk Passport Acceptance Facility is increasing daily appointments from 12 to 40 appointments per day. New passport appointments will become available two weeks prior to the appointment date on the city’s Get it Done website here. Additionally, the Passport Acceptance Facility will provide walk-in services weekly on Wednesdays between 9-10 a.m. The public can call 619-533-4000 or visit sandiego.gov/passports to schedule an appointment Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
American Lung Association can help
in determining the risk for lung cancer
SAN DIEGO — The American Lung Association has launched a comprehensive effort to assist San Diegans through the process of determining their risk for lung cancer, how to access potentially life-saving screenings, and quitting tobacco use if applicable. San Diego County residents who would like to learn more about lung cancer, believe they may be at risk for lung cancer or who have family members at high risk, should call the American Lung Association Lung Helpline at 1-844-ALA-LUNG (844-252-5864).
Privacy Advisory Board recommends
scrapping proposed streetlight surveillance
SAN DIEGO — After months of anticipation, San Diego’s Privacy Advisory Board has recommended that the City Council reject a police proposal to buy a new streetlight camera system and pair the technology with automatic license plate readers. Board members present voted unanimously to pass along a15-page analysis of SDPD’s proposal that challenges the department, among other things, on its claim that the cameras don’t constitute an invasion of Fourth Amendment rights. The SDPD proposal and the board’s recommendation goes next to the city council.
City lobby exhibit honors individuals who have
made significant contributions toward equality
SAN DIEGO — Office of the City Clerk’s Archives announced the celebration of Dennis Voyer Allen and other San Diego trailblazers with an archives exhibit in the lobby of the City Administration Building, 202 C St., Downtown. The exhibit honors the achievements of remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions towards equality, breaking barriers, and promoting social and political milestones. Allen, a former mail carrier for the city in the early 1900s, was an extraordinary civic activist, played a pivotal role in the appointment of the first African American firemen in San Diego and was instrumental in the establishment of the San Diego Race Relations Society.
United Way, 211 San Diego and EITCC
work to return tax refunds to citizens
SAN DIEGO — United Way of San Diego County, 211 San Diego and the San Diego County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition announced that through their collaborative efforts to provide free tax preparation services to the community, a total of $29,949,748 has been returned to San Diego County individuals and families so far this year through federal and state tax refunds. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit helps low- to moderate-income individuals and families reduce the taxes they owe or increase their refund so they can put more money toward important expenses such as rent, utilities, and groceries.
Taste of Gaslamp returns on Sept. 9
across 16 square city blocks
SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s original tasting tour returns to the Gaslamp Quarter for the 27th annual Taste of Gaslamp on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 1-4 p.m. The Taste of Gaslamp is a self-guided foodie tour that has become a staple for locals and tourists alike who flock to Downtown to indulge in a culinary adventure stopping at 20-plus restaurants across 16 square city blocks. General admission for the Taste of Gaslamp tour is $45 in advance and $55 day of event. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tasteofgaslamp.com or call 619-233-5008.
Senior Transportation Program expands
its free ride service for older adults
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Senior Transportation Program, a county-sponsored initiative dedicated to enhancing transportation accessibility for older adults, announced the expansion of its free ride service to include wheelchair-accessible transportation for low-income seniors in rural and urban communities across San Diego County. The program is available to low-income seniors, whether they are ambulatory or utilize wheelchairs or other mobility devices, providing them with safe, reliable, and convenient transportation options. The program is operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego’s On the Go.
Secure Community Network hires
community security director
SAN DIEGO — The Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, and Jewish Federation of San Diego announced the hiring of Bill Ganley as their new community security director. Ganley will implement, direct, and develop a security program designed to increase safety and security for all those who participate in synagogues, schools, museums, service organizations, and other centers of Jewish life in San Diego.
Write Out Loud receives grant to host National
Endowment for the Arts Big Read in San Diego
SAN DIEGO — Write Out Loud received a $20,000 grant to host the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read in San Diego. Write Out Loud is one of 62 nonprofits in the U.S. selected to receive an NEA Big Read grant to support a community reading program. Activities with San Diego students will begin in the fall and community wide events will take place through April 2024. For more information, visit writeoutloudsd.com.
Free summer exhibit at the Dick Laub
Command Center runs through Sept. 30
SAN DIEGO — A free exhibit in the lobby of the Dick Laub Command Center at 2640 Historic Decatur Road of work by artists working in Liberty Station based on summer themes is running now through Sept. 30. Additional exhibits in the center include artwork by Joe Pisano’s “The Art of Immortalizing Heroes,” Joe Frangiosa’s “Nautical History Gallery & Museum,” and art by Lisa E in the Conference Room off the lobby (part of an NTC Foundation exhibit that includes works by Lauren LeVieux in staff offices). The summer exhibit is open daily from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The side door near Solare Restaurant is open on weekends if the main door is closed.
