Daily Business Report: March 13, 2024
California colleges have to slash emissions.
Here’s why carbonization is complex and costly
By Christina Chkarboul | CalMatters
California is home to the three largest public university systems in the nation, with 148 campuses across the state serving nearly 3 million students annually. Maintaining expansive systems comes at a large cost, both in dollars and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Every time a student flips on the light switch in their dorm, a professor turns on the computer to start a lecture or a facilities employee drives across campus to make a repair, a campus’ carbon footprint grows. Now, as the state asks colleges to meet mandatory emissions reductions by 2045 while also accommodating more students, the University of California, California State University and community colleges will have to figure out how to reduce emissions while growing in size and scope.
The University of California set the pace for campus sustainability when, in 2013, it became the first major university system to commit to carbon neutrality by 2025. Then, a year out from its original deadline, the UC changed course.
Last July, the 10-campus UC system published its revised plan to “fully decarbonize” by 2045, reversing its original plan which relied on carbon offsets to cut the majority of its emissions. The new plan outlines cutting emissions by at least 90 percent from 2019 levels by using energy from renewable sources and cutting the last 10 percent with projects that remove emissions from the atmosphere.
Cubic introduces its Umo Handheld Reader
for accessible, efficient fare collection
Cubic Transportation Systems, part of Cubic Corporation, announced the release of its innovative Umo Handheld
Reader, pairing the company’s software application with Samsung’s commercial, off-the-shelf device for easy and seamless electronic fare collection on buses, trains and more.
The Umo Handheld Reader is an addition to Cubic’s cloud-based Umo platform, which is designed to enhance how riders experience and pay for public transportation, making it easier, more convenient and more enjoyable.
Additional benefits of the Umo Handheld Reader include its accessibility for smaller transit operations with limited budgets, providing seamless integration into their existing services while expanding to new vehicles or shuttles for paratransit and on-demand transport services.
You didn’t see it coming: The spontaneous nature of turbulence
By Michelle Franklin | UC San Diego
We experience turbulence every day: a gust of wind, water gushing down a river or mid-flight bumps on an airplane.
Although it may be easy to understand what causes some kinds of turbulence — a felled tree in a river or a bear splashing around for salmon — there is now evidence that a very small disturbance at the start can have dramatic effects later. Instead of a tree, think of a twig — or even the swerving motion of a molecule.
University of California San Diego Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics Nigel Goldenfeld, along with his former student Dmytro Bandak, and Professors Alexei Mailybaev and Gregory Eyink, has shown in theoretical models of turbulence that even molecular motions can create large-scale patterns of randomness over a defined period of time. Their work appears in Physical Review Letters.
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Funding approved for 19 park projects across San Diego
Nineteen park projects in the City of San Diego will receive approximately $15.9 million in capital-improvement funding as part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s Parks for All of Us initiative. The San Diego City Council approved Citywide Park Development Impact Fee (DIF) allocations to support the 19 projects, including land acquisition, improvements to existing parks and new construction.
The funding allocations approved will provide nearly $15.9 million in Citywide Park DIF funds to 19 park projects, with an additional $363,000 in community-based DIF funds. The Citywide Park DIF program was established in August 2021, as part of a long-awaited update to the Parks Master Plan. Previously, DIF funds could be spent only in the communities where the fees were collected.
Downtown San Diego Partnership introduces
new company for community improvement services
Leveraging its decades of experience taking care of high-traffic spaces and places, the Downtown San Diego Partnership announced its groundbreaking new venture, Urban Strategy Services (USS), which will offer custom community improvement services to transform properties, neighborhoods and business areas.
USS already works with several large clients, including BOSA Development in San Diego and will begin with SDSU Mission Valley Enterprises to provide the newly opened SDSU Mission Valley River Park and development with a variety of critical services, including a park ambassador program, janitorial, security, hospitality and consultative services to maintain a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
“Urban Strategy Services is providing high-quality services that are helping to ensure SDSU Mission Valley is a safe and inviting place for all San Diegans,” said Gina Jacobs, associate vice president for Mission Valley Development. “We selected them because their experience is well suited for the type of inclusive and transformative community we are seeking to create.”
Realtors host free workshop on property tax
savings and fraud prevention resources
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) will present a free public education workshop on property tax savings opportunities and fraud prevention resources for homeowners, seniors, families and disabled veterans from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Thursday, March 28, at the PSAR South County Service Center, 880 Canarios Court, Chula Vista. The public is invited to attend.
Presenters will include Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and Jordan Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
At the workshop, information will be available on how homeowners can use tax portability to keep property taxes low if they decide to move, downsize or upgrade. Voters approved a 2020 California ballot initiative that allows homeowners over age 55 to access property tax savings when moving their primary residence. Information will be shared on a free real estate fraud notification service that protects San Diego County property owners against title theft.
Reservations can be made by calling (858) 286-6242, or visit www.psar.org/taxsavings.
Jack in the Box senior vice president Dean Gordon to retire
Jack in the Box announced the retirement of SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer Dean Gordon after 15 years at the organization. Gordon joined the company in February 2009 and has been pivotal in driving its growth and success. He has been senior vice president and chief supply chain officer since November 2019. During his tenure, Gordon has spearheaded numerous cost savings initiatives and built invaluable relationships with the company’s franchise owners, suppliers, and vendor partners.
Biotechnology company promotes its body contouring drug
10xBio LLC, a biotechnology company that focuses on new uses for existing therapies and technologies, announced promising initial clinical trial results on its novel injectable drug for submental body contouring, 10XB101. An innovative alternative to other fat removal options, 10XB101 provides superior efficacy, fewer side effects, enhanced patient tolerability and shorter treatment intervals, the company said.
Geekplus celebrates 75th North American project
Geekplus, the global leader in mobile robot and smart logistics solutions, has deployed more than 75 projects in North America, the company’s fastest-growing region. Last year, Geekplus empowered customers with mobile order fulfillment robots at more than 38 project sites across 20 states and one Canadian territory. Geekplus empowers warehouse operators with a comprehensive suite of reliable, scalable Goods-to-Person mobile robots.
Lesa Christenson joins Moore, Schulman & Moore law firm
Moore, Schulman & Moore APC is adding ABC Family Law & Mediation Center’s founding partner, Lesa Christenson, to its team. The merger allows MSM to expand its ability to provide superior family law services from North County to Downtown San Diego. Christenson is a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2002. She is honored with an “AV” rating, the highest possible rating Martindale-Hubbell gives to practicing attorneys.
Dr. Lauren Shawver to receive Duane Roth Award
The Duane Roth Endowed Lecture Committee announced that it will recognize Laura Shawver as the 2024 Award Lecture recipient. The award will be presented by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria during the 20th Annual Industry/Academia Precision Oncology Symposium on March 21 in La Jolla. Dr. Laura Shawver is a health care pioneer who has created new paradigms in cancer research and treatment through her roles as a scientist, leader, patient and patient advocate.
CONAM Strategic Investments acquires Skylar Grand
CONAM Strategic Investments Fund IV LP, a discretionary fund sponsored by San Diego-based The CONAM Group, announced the purchase of Skylar Grand, a 170-unit Class A multi-family community with 5,698 square feet of retail in Portland, Ore. This property adds to CONAM’s portfolio within Portland and is the first deal in Fund IV. Completed in 2022, Skylar Grand offers a variety of floor plans including studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units with high-end finishes and features.
CureMatch and Spesana in strategic collaboration
CureMatch and Spesana, two leading health-tech companies, announced a new strategic partnership for the advancement of precision medicine and transform the solutions available to clinicians & patients. The planned integration and alignment of CureMatch’s innovative KRR (knowledge, representation & reasoning) AI precision medicine platform with Spesana’s clinical workflow ecosystem aims to revolutionize patient care and outcomes in the healthcare industry.
Calidi Biotherapeutics and City of Hope announce $5.3 million grant
Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. and City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, jointly announced that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded Karen Aboody, MD, City of Hope professor, a $5.3 million grant to fund preclinical translational studies, product manufacturing, and clinical trial design using Calidi’s licensed oncolytic virotherapy product, CLD-101, in patients with chemo-resistant, metastatic ovarian cancer.
Shield AI selected to integrate AI Pilot onto Kratos aircraft
Shield AI, the defense technology company building an AI pilot, announced it has been selected by NAVAIR PMA-281 to integrate its AI Pilot onto the Kratos BQM-177A to enable advanced AI-based autonomy. Shield AI will work closely with the original equipment manufacturer, Kratos, to contribute to the U.S. Navy’s objective of increasing capabilities to provide fleet protection by utilizing AI-powered crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities.
Danae Van Oene joins Element Biosciences as VP of global sales and support
Element Biosciences, Inc., developer of pioneering technologies to empower science, announced the appointment of Danae Van Oene as senior vice president of global sales and support. In her new role, Van Oene will spearhead Element’s commercial sales initiatives, overseeing regions including North America, Asia Pacific, EMEA, Latin America and others worldwide. Danae was most recently 10x Genomics’ vice president and general manager for the Americas.
