Daily Business Report: Nov. 15, 2023
Visual Capitalist
Best Selling Vehicles in America by State
By Marcus Lu
Trucks and SUVs are the top selling vehicle in every state but one. It’s Florida.
This is unsurprising, given that sedan popularity has been waning in the U.S. for quite some time. This is due to various factors, including shifting consumer preferences and the improved fuel efficiency of trucks and SUVs.
Evs Gain a Foothold
Another interesting story from this map can be found in California, which is the first and only state where an EV, specifically the Tesla Model Y, is the best selling vehicle.
California leads the nation in terms of EV adoption, and coincidentally also has the largest number of Tesla charging stations at 366 (As of July 2023). The next two states in terms of Tesla charging stations are Florida (136) and Texas (128).
Other states that could soon see an EV become their best selling vehicle include Washingtonand DC. In both these jurisdictions, the Model Y is currently the second most popular vehicle.
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Sea level rise imperils South County sewers
By Susanne Clara Bard | SDSU
Sewage overflows from Tijuana have been contaminating Imperial Beach for many decades. The problem recently reached crisis levels, with city leaders calling on the state and federal governments for more funds to fix the aging sewage infrastructure on both sides of the border.
By causing sea levels to rise, climate change also plays a role in compromising the sewage infrastructure of Imperial Beach, according to a new study in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society. Led by Yousef Sangsefidi, San Diego State University researchers teamed up with scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography to examine how rising sea levels impact sewer pipes in the city and what this means for the future.
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This wireless, handheld, non-invasive device
detects Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s biomarkers
By Ioana Patringenaru | UC San Diego
An international team of researchers has developed a handheld, non-invasive device that can detect biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. The biosensor can also transmit the results wirelessly to a laptop or smartphone.
The team tested the device on in vitro samples from patients and showed that it is as accurate as the state of the art. Ultimately, researchers plan to test saliva and urine samples with the biosensor. The device could be modified to detect biomarkers for other conditions as well.
Researchers present their findings in the Nov. 13, 2023 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
The device relies on electrical rather than chemical detection, which researchers say is easier to implement and more accurate.
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‘DNA loops’ in pediatric brain tumors double relapse risk
A study of newly created databases of medulloblastoma has found that patients with tumors containing circular extrachromosomal DNA—loops of DNA found outside of regular chromosomes—are twice as likely to relapse and three times as likely to die within five years of diagnosis. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, pave the way for research that could yield new treatments for this aggressive childhood brain cancer.
There are around 350 new medulloblastoma diagnoses per year, and most of these are in children.
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Oil companies top big year in lobbyist spending
By Jeremia Kimelman | CalMatters
The leaves might be turning red and brown across swaths of California, but there has been a lot of green spent on swaying the opinions of policymakers since the year began.
Between the start of January and the end of September more than $358 million was spent by nearly 4,000 companies, organizations, and local governments to lobby California’s government, according to reports filed with the Secretary of State.
That is a nominal increase from this point in 2022, when lobbying activity totaled $333 million. For all of 2022, the total was more than $437 million. Data for October through December of this year won’t be reported until early next year. In the last 10 years, about 24 percent of the money was reported in the final three months of a year.
Chevron Corp. and the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade organization for the oil industry, spent the most on lobbying activities so far this year at nearly $10 million and $5.3 million, respectively.
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Humane Society, animal advocates’ worst fears confirmed;
Hundreds of small animals likely became snake food
Hundreds of rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and hamsters that the San Diego Humane Society transferred to its Arizona counterpart this summer probably became snake food, the shelters have confirmed, after months of speculation by animal advocates.
The news comes three months after more than 300 small animals were transferred to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona to alleviate pressure on local shelters.
For weeks, the San Diego shelter and advocates demanded proof that the animals were safe after the Tucson shelter declined to share information about most of them. It said only that they were being adopted out through a private rescue organization that wanted to remain anonymous.
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Rick Snyder to be installed chair of National Apartment Association
San Diego’s Rick Snyder will be installed as the chair of the National Apartment Association on Thursday at the Hilton Bayfront San Diego. He will begin his yearlong term inJanuary. Snyder takes the helm as the industry faces new regulatory challenges at the national level and in a time of historical rental demand. Snyder has more than 30 years of real estate experience, with a specialization in property management as the head of R.A. Snyder Properties Inc., which manages over 6,000 rental units throughout the San Diego region.
North Park Main Street presents Shop Local Saturday
North Park Main Street presents Shop Local Saturday in North Park on Nov. 25 honoring the annual Small Business Saturday with a 5k turkey trot, art exhibition, live music, complimentary food samples, and sales from area businesses. Opening ceremony is at 11 a.m. at Mila Village + Modern, 2879 University Ave. The turkey trot is at 10 a.m. Park at the North Park Garage, 3829 29th St.
Second annual Pacific Rim Park Friendship Walk returns
The Ilan-Lael Foundation announced the return of the second annual Pacific Rim Park Friendship Walk, set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Shoreline Park on Shelter Island, home to their “Pearl of the Pacific” sculpture. This year’s event holds special significance as it celebrates the Pacific Rim Park Project and focuses on the San Diego-Tijuana region, where the Ilan-Lael Foundation is actively preparing for their participation in the World Design Capital 2024.
Paint the town pink
The Del Mar Village Association is rallying a crowd of well-wishers to cheer on more than 2,000 anticipated walkers that will pass through the heart of Del Mar Village on Friday, Nov. 17 from 8-9:30 a.m. as the San Diego Susan G. Komen 3-Day kicks off. Anyone interested in participating in this fun and inspirational morning should dress in pink and come to Del Mar Village just south of 15th Street on Camino Del Mar (Highway 101) between 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Escondido Community Foundation seeks
proposals to upgrade local community
The Escondido Community Foundation (ECF), a regional affiliate of San Diego Foundation, announced a call for Letters of Intent for its 18th annual grant cycle. ECF invites nonprofits serving Escondido to submit applications for projects that will upgrade community spaces.
Eligible nonprofit organizations serving Escondido may submit proposals of $15,000 to $40,000. ECF is hosting a Grant Seekers Forum at 4 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Raymond Center for Community Philanthropy, located in the Pacific Western Bank building at 900 Canterbury, Ste. 300, in Escondido.
Wayfarer San Diego beachfront hotel completes refit
The Wayfarer San Diego beachfront hotel in Pacific Beach has been given a refit by Orange County-based Pacifica Hotels. Work included refreshed guestrooms and a re-imagined lobby area with art installations and a curated book library, as well as a new locally sourced caft concept. The hotel has 126 coastal-inspired rooms and suites with private balconies, custom art by famed street artist Cheyenne Randall.
Oceanside allows retail cannabis shops
Oceanside has approved two new retail cannabis shop licenses and will allow MedLeaf, the only licensed cannabis delivery service, a chance to convert to a storefront operation. The news is a relief for MedLeaf owners Karen and George Hannawi, who were “elated” after hearing the council’s decision to let their business convert to a brick-and-mortar shop separate from the lottery. The couple, who have operated their cannabis delivery business in Oceanside since 2020, said they would be wiped out if forced to compete with storefronts in Oceanside and Vista.
San Diego rolls out green bins
San Diego has completed its rollout of more than 200,000 organic waste recycling green bins to city serviced homes to allow residents to collect food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings for weekly collection. Some 213,000 green bins have been distributed since Jan. 11, along with 281,000 kitchen pails with more than 53,000 tons of organic waste collected to date. “Recycling organic waste is a key part of achieving our climate action goals,” Mayor Todd Gloria said.
First-ever ice rink opens at Julian Farm and Orchard
Julian Farm and Orchard is celebrating the opening of its first-ever ice rink. The new rink is set to be the centerpiece of the “Holidays at the Farm” event, happening Fridays Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 1. Guests are invited to skate with friends and family and wind down after with a seasonal drink by the fire. The farm is open from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. with ice skating into the evening depending on the day. Ice skating costs $18 for ages 12 and up and $12 for ages 3-11.
City makes progress toward zero waste goals
Marking a significant milestone in efforts to encourage recycling and limit waste, the City of San Diego has achieved a 71 percent diversion rate for the amount of waste diverted from the landfill, the highest it has ever been. According to data provided by CalRecycle, the diversion rate of 71 percent for 2022 was based on all waste generated by those who live, work and play within the city limits of San Diego. Diverting waste helps the city move closer to achieving Zero Waste Plan goals.
