Daily Business Report: Nov. 6, 2023
How college admissions are changing
after the end of affirmative action
By Carolyn Jones and Mikhail Zinshteyn | CalMatters
For students of color, the Supreme Court’s recent ban on affirmative action has left them frustrated but undaunted as they plow through college application season. Some California private colleges, meanwhile, are increasing their outreach efforts to attract more students and send a signal that the end of race-based admissions doesn’t change their belief in the importance of diversity.
“I want to go to a college where I feel comfortable and supported and confident. So yes, the ruling has definitely affected what schools I’m looking at,” said Maya Murchison, a senior at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista. “I want to know what colleges are doing to guarantee diversity.”
The court’s 6-3 ruling in June prohibits all colleges in the country from using race as a consideration in admissions. California’s public universities have not used affirmative action for almost 30 years, but some of the state’s selective private colleges, and many out-of-state public universities, have relied on affirmative action to attract students of color and create a more diverse student body.
Photo: Maya Murchison at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista on Oct. 23, 2023. Murchison, a high school senior, says the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action has affected her college application process. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters)
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Homeless and at-risk population to help
restore San Diego’s most valuable land
San Diego Canyonlands and the Lucky Duck Foudation announced an initiative to boost training and long-term employment opportunities for persons at risk of homelessness while simultaneously combating climate change by enhancing the city’s most valuable real estate.
Supervised by Canyonlands staff, individuals experiencing and at risk of homelessness will form a paid working team to remove more than 1 ton of fire-prone invasive species and replace them with more than 250 fire-resistant native plants across several San Diego canyon habitat ecosystems. Their efforts will reduce wild-fire and flood risks, while simultaneously improving water quality, air quality, climate resiliency, biodiversity, wildlife, property values, and the physical and mental health of all San Diegans.
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Sales of zero-emission vehicles in California in Q3 ramp up
The California Energy Commission reports that 26.7 percent of all new cars sold in California last quarter (Q3) — 119,580 — were zero-emission vehicles. That’s up from 25.4 percent in the previous quarter.
According to ther California Air Resources Board, 34 percent of new zero-emission vehicles sold in the U.S. are sold in California.
“We’ve made it easier and cheaper than ever for folks to transition to clean cars, and it’s continuing to produce real results. This progress represents less pollution in our air from burning fossil fuels,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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Native American Art Show coming Nov. 10-12
The Exclusive Collections Gallery in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is hosting the 4th annual Native American Art Show Nov. 10-12, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the nation’s top Native American artists through sculptures, paintings, and mixed-media pieces.
The weekend show will be held Friday and Saturday 6 to 9 p.m.and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. where attendees get to meet internationally acclaimed Native American artists Cara Romero, Gerald Clarke, Ruben Chato, Johnny Bear Contreras, George Rivera, Jeremy Salazar, Son of Picasso, Votan, and Cody Sanderson. There will also be a VIP reception on Saturday, Nov 11 from 6 to 9 p.m.
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Latham & Watkins promotes five lawyers
to the role of counsel in San Diego
Five lawyers from the San Diego law firm Latham & Watkins LLP have been promoted to the role of counsel, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
• Hannah Cary is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Departments. She received her JD from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2014.
• Joshua Chao is a member of the Banking Practice and Finance Department. He received his JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2012.
• Joanna Gorska is a member of the Project Development & Finance Practice and Finance Department. She completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in 2012 and received her Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University.
• David Kowalski is a member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2009.
• Evan Youngstrom is a member of the Emerging Companies & Growth Practice and Corporate Department. He received his JD from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2015.
San Diego Automotive Museum offers free
admission to veterans and their families
November marks National Veterans and Military Families month in the United States. To recognize those who have made tremendous sacrifices for our country, the San Diego Automotive Museum will be offering free admission to veterans and their families throughout the month of November. All veterans and up to four family members are invited. Proof of military service is required, and the veteran must be present.
Harbor Associates purchases 2 Carlsbad buildings for $21.25 million
Harbor Associates has purchased two Class A buildings in Carlsbad for $21.25 million. They are located at 5801 and 5807 Van Allen Way. The seller was Systems Machines Automation Corporation. The two buildings are located within the Carlsbad Research Center, which includes North County’s highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. The seller was represented by Matt Pourcho, Anthony DeLorenzo, Dennis Visser and Weston Yahn.
Silver&Fit Healthy Aging and Exercise program offers new features
Medicare beneficiaries looking to enhance their well-being now have access to even more tools and resources to support their health and fitness goals, thanks to the Silver&Fit Healthy Aging and Exercise program, a popular fitness benefit provided by American Specialty Health (ASH) through many Medicare Advantage plans.
Gina Griffin appointed senior vice
president of Heritage Global Valuations
Heritage Global Valuations, a division of Heritage Global Inc., a leading appraisal and liquidation firm, announced the appointment of Gina Griffin as senior vice president. With a career spanning more than two decades, Griffin brings a wealth of expertise in the appraisal and liquidation industry, particularly in retail, consumer products, and e-commerce. Since 2021, Griffin has served as a consultant for HGV, where she significantly contributed to the firm’s success.
Payroll Integrations raises $20 million in Series A funding
Payroll Integrations announced the close of its $20 million Series A funding round. The funding was led by Arthur Ventures, a Minneapolis-based growth equity firm with deep expertise in B2B software. With the funding, Payroll Integrations will expand its product line and relationships with payroll companies and benefit platforms to further employees’ financial wellness journey through data connectivity.
Money still available for low-income water customers
Millions of dollars in federal aid are still available for low-income water customers in San Diego County to cover overdue residential water and wastewater bills. The San Diego County Water Authority helped secure the federal funds — and the deadline for applications has been extended to March 31, 2024. Residents can determine their local service provider at www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/FindServicesInYourArea.aspx, by entering their city and locating their “water utility assistance provider.”
Shield AI raises $200 million in Series F funding
Startup unicorn Shield AI, which uses AI to enable autonomous drones and aircraft, secured $200 million in Series F funding. Reflecting San Diego’s defense history and expertise, Shield AI is now valued at $2.7 billion and is working to integrate its AI pilot software into uncrewed fighter jets and other aircraft.
San Diego MLS team leases Little Italy building for headquarters
San Diego Football Club, has leased 15,000 square feet of office space for a corporate headquarters at the 2100 Kettner building in Little Italy. The club is also building a training facility and youth academy on 28 acres of Sycuan tribal land in El Cajon, becoming the first professional sports organization to establish a dedicated professional training facility on a tribal reservation, the team announced.
VedaBio secures more than $40 million in initial funding
VedaBio has launched from stealth mode alongside an initial funding of more than $40 million backed by lead investor OMX Ventures, with the company saying it is poised to drive a new way of molecular detection. The company debuted with CRISPR Cascade – a platform that can detect genetic code without the need for target amplification. Molecular testing is used for diagnosis of certain conditions or utilised to predict risk of future disease.
El Chingon donating funds to two local charities
El Chingon at 560 Fifth Ave. has partnered with local experiential marketing brand, Subelo Group, to support immigrant and Hispanic communities by donating funds to two charities, Border Angels and Love Thy Neighbor. El Chingon will donate a portion of cover charges collected on Thursdays nights in November and December to the organizations. More information about El Chingon is available at ElChingon.com/San Diego.
UC San Diego named a Helping Hands Grant awardee
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation named UC San Diego as one of this year’s seven Helping Hands Grant awardees. Since 2005, the Helping Hands Grants program has awarded over $400,000 in support of psychiatry students addressing mental health and substance use issues through research. The grants provide up to $5,000 annually to winning medical school students.
