Daily Business Report: Sept. 18, 2023
California child sex trafficking bill clears
Legislature, heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk
By Travis Gillmore, for The Epoch Times
Following lengthy debate in the Legislature, the California Assembly passed a child sex trafficking bill Sept. 11, and the Senate concurred two days later, putting the bill one step closer to becoming law.
Senate Bill 14, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), makes child sex trafficking a serious felony and increases penalties for repeat offenders by making the offense a strike under the state’s three-strike system.
“Today is a huge victory for every survivor who has shared their story in hopes of making a change with Senate Bill 14,” Ms. Grove said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times Sept. 13. “With the passage of this bill, we are sending a clear message to repeat child traffickers—we intend to put you out of business and into prison.”
Photo: California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. (Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters)
Developer picked for 800-unit student
Housing complex near City College
By Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego
The trustees of the San Diego Community College District have chosen a developer to design, construct, and operate an apartment complex that will provide affordable housing to City College students.
The selection of the New Jersey-based Michaels Organization, a developer of student, military and other affordable housing, was approved at the Sept. 14 board meeting.
Initial plans call for a seven- and eight-story, 800-unit complex on the block bounded by 16th, 17th, B and C streets in the East Village. The site is currently the location of a child development center and a parking lot.
City College is among the first California institutions to be selected for the state’s Affordable Student Housing Program. The college’s project would serve students who most need housing to pursue their education, including students who are low-income, veterans, foster youth, and others.
Julian Farm and Orchard named
one of USA Today’s Best Apple Orchards
Julian Farm and Orchard is a winner in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Apple Orchard in the USA.
The farm was nominated by an expert panel from the publication that includes editors and relevant contributors. The nominees were then voted on by the public and the farm placed among the top 10, representing the only location in California.
Julian Farm and Orchard was recognized for its vast apple orchard that boasts over 1,400 trees and covers a large portion of the 25-acre property. The panel also considered other factors including their activities and other autumn offerings.
Julian Farm and Orchard is a sustainable farm and offers a variety of agritourism and school field trip programs throughout the year from daffodils in the spring, Revolution in the Orchard in April, U-Pick Strawberries and Raspberries into June, July and August, Apple Picking in September and the famous Pumpkin Patch in September and October. For November and December, something new is planned: a sustainable Ice-Skating Rink with Holidays on the Farm.
Airport and local brewers release beers
Made from purified condensate
San Diego International Airport, Water Works Inc., and The East Village Brewing Company
celebrate the production of beers made with purified condensate collected through the airport’s water stewardship program. Initially released in December 2022, Hoppy Travels IPA is a West Coast IPA with flavors of grapefruit and guava. A new seasonal release, Cruising Ale-titude is a honey ale with flavors of floral, honey and cracker. The beers are currently on tap at The East Village Brewing Company and are also available at concessions in Terminal 2.
The water used in the beers is condensate that drips from the bottom of air conditioning units attached to jet bridges at the airport. Water Works Inc. captures and purifies the condensate using ozone disinfection before transporting it to The East Village Brewing Company. The condensate water has a pure water profile with little mineral content, making the reclaimed water an ideal base for brewers. In addition to making beer, the water is used to clean equipment and vehicles at the airport as well as in the cooling towers that control the temperature in the terminals.
Port of San Diego seeks public review and input
on proposed Seaport San Diego redevelopment
The Port of San Diego is seeking public review and input on what to study as part of the environmental review process for the proposed Seaport San Diego redevelopment.
In 2016, the Board of Port Commissioners selected the 1HWY1 development team to redevelop a large portion of the Central Embarcadero including Seaport Village, Tuna Harbor, Embarcadero Marina Park North, and Ruocco Park. 1HWY1 is proposing a mix of uses including extensive plazas, parks and promenades; piers and marinas; hospitality, retail and restaurants; commercial fishing uses; multiple visitor attractions; an urban beach; and educational uses. The proposed project covers approximately 39 acres of land and 63 acres of water.
The port is holding two public scoping meetings:
In person: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 5 p.m. at the Port Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101.
Virtual: Thursday, Sept. 28, 5:30 p.m., via Zoom. Click here for link. (Meeting Passcode: 561630, Webinar ID: 925 2036 7342)
Qualcomm and Baidu team up on XR, metaverse technology
By Catherine Sbeglia Nin | RCR Wireless News
Chinese internet giant Baidu announced on social media that it has partnered with Qualcomm to create a new metaverse platform and services. According to Chinese news agencies, Baidu stated non-binding memorandum of understanding also includes joint work around generative AI.
While few details have been made public, Baidu said that the plan is to combine its cloud and AI technologies with other platforms to develop applications for a variety of industries, including citing tourism, education and sports. The company added, specifically, that by integrating Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform and related XR technologies into its XiRang metaverse platform, it will be able to build XR applications and content more quickly.
Tuition hike of 34 percent across five years
Coming to California State University
By Mikhail Zinshteyn | CalMatters
The California State University system voted last week to raise tuition 6 percent annually for the next five years, a decision that seemed destined when its leaders revealed in May that Cal State brings in far less revenue than it needs to educate its nearly half a million students.
The system’s board of trustees voted 15 to 5 to approve the hikes, choosing financial stability over the collective outcry of students and the faculty union that denounced the move.
The Cal State “is a dream engine” but approving tuition hikes is a “nightmare scenario,” said Cal State trustee Jose Antonio Vargas, who ultimately voted for the increases.
The first increase will kick in for all tuition-paying students next fall. For in-state undergraduates, that’ll be an uptick of $342, rising to $6,084 per year. After five years, annual undergraduate tuition will be $1,940 higher than it was in the 2023-24 school year.
General Atomics awarded $7.4 million Department of Energy grant
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded General Atomics $7.4 million to build a Fusion Data Platform. Developed over three years in partnership with the Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Sapientai, researchers will use the platform’s high-quality fusion data to create replicable AI-ML models that support pilot fusion power plant design and operations.
EPA awards SDSU $10 million to launch energy center
San Diego State University secured a $10 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to launch its Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice. One of 17 centers nationwide connecting to rural and remote tribal and indigenous communities with federal resources for sale, reliable, clean energy, the center will be among the first tenants in SDSU’s Innovation District to break ground next year.
San Diego Chamber presents the 2023 Visionary Awards
Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego Wave FC, JONES Consulting, USS Midway Museum were honored at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Visionary Awards.
Life Science Cares announces impact
Level Partnership with Kuro Oncology
Life Science Cares (LSC) announced a new $250,000 partnership with Kura Oncology to provide additional grant funding for educational initiatives in both San Diego and Greater Boston. The partnership will ensure funding for nonprofit organizations in LSC’s Access to Education Portfolio in both communities in 2023-2024 as well as support LSC’s networking platform One-to-One.
Petco to participate in Evercore ISI Virtual Pet Care Summit
Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc. announced that Brian LaRose, chief financial officer, and Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, chief veterinarian, will participate at the Evercore ISI Virtual Pet Care Summit on Sept. 20, 2023. LaRose will participate in a fireside conversation at approximately 11:40 a.m. Eastern Time. Miller will participate in a panel discussion on pet services at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern time. The webcast of both events will be available via the company’s investor relations page at ir.petco.com.
Pvolv opens its second franchise studio in Carlsbad
Pvolve, the omni-channel fitness company with an innovative, science-led method that pairs functional movement with proprietary equipment, has opened its second franchise studio and first in Carlsbad. Located at 7030 Avenida Encinas, the newly minted location builds on the company’s strong pipeline of franchise locations coming to market. The physical studios allow for a hands-on way to experience Pvolve’s signature, low impact, resistance-based method, which encourages members to break a sweat, but not their bodies.
Blenders Eyewear unveils eyewear collaboration
With Deion Sanders, ‘Coach Prime’
Blenders Eyewear, a leading eyewear brand, part of Safilo Group, announced a new collaboration with legendary sports icon Deion Sanders, popularly known as “Coach Prime.” With this initiative, Blenders Eyewear will unveil a new sunglasses line inspired by the coach himself as well as serve as the preferred eyewear partner of CU Athletics. Available for pre-order now, the limited-edition Blenders Eyewear x Coach Prime sunglasses will be available on Oct. 12.
Oncologist Professor Shun Lu joins Phanes Clinical Advisory Board
Phanes Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in oncology, announced that Professor Shun Lu, an internationally renowned oncologist and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Chest Hospital, has joined the company’s Clinical Advisory Board. Professor Lu is a leading clinician-scientist in the field of lung cancer.
Independent Financial Group celebrates 20 years in business
Independent Financial Group LLC (IFG) a San Diego-based independent broker-dealer, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2003 and reporting $267 million in revenue for 2022, IFG has found enduring success as a family-friendly company with a focus on independence and delivering industry-leading services with a personal feel. IFG is a privately held independent broker-dealer based in San Diego.
CliniComp achieves Great Place to Work certification
CliniComp, the pioneer in high-perform ing, reliable electronic health record (EHR) solutions, achieved certification as a Great Place to Work, which recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience. The certification is based on a two-step process that relies on confidentially surveying employees and completing a questionnaire about company culture and benefits. The certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience.
The Deerborne Group publishes article on navigating
The Molecular Diagnostics reimbursement process
The Deerborne Group, a genomics and precision diagnostics strategy consultancy, announced the release of an in-depth article designed to empower organizations with the insights and knowledge to expertly navigate the molecular diagnostics reimbursement process. The article sheds light on the Molecular Diagnostics Services (MolDx) program, administered by Palmetto GBA, which was developed to identify and establish reimbursement for molecular diagnostic tests.
