Daily Business Report: June 5, 2024
Chula Vista tried to withhold police drone
footage. Then a Latino newspaper fought back
By Pedro Rios | CalMatters
When La Prensa publisher and longtime Chula Vista resident Art Castañares first filed a public records request in 2021 to review video footage from police department drones, he wanted“to see how police use the new drones and whether they may be violating people’s privacy rights as they fly over thousands of homes around the city.”
Chula Vista officials resisted, prompting a lengthy legal fight. This spring, the California Supreme Court refused to hear the case, essentially affirming an appellate court ruling that the city’s blanket refusal to prevent the public from accessing drone video footage was too broad. A San Diego Superior Court judge had initially sided with Chula Vista before the case was taken to the 4th District Court of Appeal.
The implications of this lawsuit could affect over a dozen California cities that already use or are exploring using drones as first responders.
“Our lawsuit created a statewide legal precedent that improves the public’s access to police records that agencies have tried to shield from disclosure,” Castañares said in an interview.
Castañares isn’t the only one worried. Verónica Marquez, a high-school teacher and 34-year Chula Vista resident, also expressed concerns. In the last six months, drones have passed over her home or within two blocks at least 15 times for various reasons. Calls have ranged from “unknown” problems and reports of suspicious vehicles to serious matters, such as “assault with a deadly weapon.”
“I believe the public should have access to video footage,” Marquez told me. “It makes me distrust the police more because if they had nothing to hide, they wouldn’t be preventing access.”
Top photo: A drone sits idle on the rooftop of the Chula Vista Police headquarters. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, Voice of San Diego)
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Carlsbad takes control of Chestnut Avenue apartment complex
The Coast News
CARLSBAD — Solutions for Change has forfeited ownership of 16 low-income apartment units to the city after changes to state funding rules made the nonprofit’s original goal of turning the property into drug-free housing for homeless individuals unattainable.
The nonprofit, which provides services to homeless individuals and families, including housing, counseling services, parenting and finance classes, job skills training and work experience, had owned the property at 945 Chestnut Avenue since 2014.
At the time, the city gave Solutions for Change a $3.1 million loan to rehabilitate and turn the property into permanent, affordable housing for homeless families who had graduated from the Solutions Academy.
As part of the agreement, the city required Solutions for Change to obtain additional funding by the end of 2019 to plan, design, and obtain permits for the much-needed rehabilitation of the property.
Since the nonprofit bought the building, the state has changed its funding model to require homeless programs to use the Housing First approach.
Photo: Chestnut Villas Apartments in Carlsbad
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San Diego steps up as Water Authority’s ‘Sugar Daddy’
By MacKenzie Elmer | Voice of San Diego
When the region’s water importer said it was hurting for cash, the city of San Diego said: I’ll be your sugar daddy.
That’s basically what happened last week after the San Diego County Water Authority – in charge of getting water from the Colorado River and northern California to San Diego – broke the news to its 22 customer water districts that its prices were going up 39 percent over the next two years. Mayor Todd Gloria pushed back on the increase, calling on his board members to find a way to soften the blow on San Diegans.
Then the city, the Water Authority’s largest customer, stepped in and offered to help foot part of the bill by paying a few of its water bills in advance.
The Water Authority bit immediately, sending a letter on Friday to its 22 customer water districts that said, if everyone did the same, they could lower the 19 percent rate increase that would go into effect Jan. 1 by 1.5 percent.
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San Diego’s Rubio’s Coastal Grill abruptly
shuts dozens of restaurants across state
By Brooke Binkowski |Times of San Diego
Rubio’s Coastal Grill, a San Diego-based restaurant chain that brought Baja California-style dining to the rest of the world, abruptly shuttered 48 of its 134 locations, all in California, last week.
Thirteen of the locations closed on Friday were in San Diego.
The company attributed the decision to rising costs in the state.
“Making the decision to close a store is never an easy one,” a Rubio’s spokesperson said in a statement supplied by crisis management and communications firm Sitrick and Company.
“Rubio’s Coastal Grill, Home of the Original Fish Taco, after a thorough review of its operations and the current business climate, has decided to close 48 underperforming locations in California as of May 31, while keeping 86 stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada open. The closings were brought about by the rising cost of doing business in California.
“While painful, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic long-term plan to position Rubio’s for success for years to come.”
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City Tacos celebrates 10 years as a palate-expanding Taqueria
By Drew Sitton | sdnews.com
Much has changed in the San Diego culinary scene since Gerry Torres opened City Tacos in North Park 10 years ago. Some of that change is thanks to his work educating the public about what authentic Mexican food should taste like through his affordable gourmet tacos.
Torres and executive chef Eduardo Baeza are both from Mexico City. A decade ago, Torres felt like Mexican cuisine in San Diego consisted of the same menu at every taco shop with the same five ingredients in each dish plated in 25 different ways. In 2014, he opened an authentic taqueria with flavorful offerings foreign to San Diego palates.
The original menu had five tacos: Borrego (lamb), Chile Relleno, Chorizo, Pollo City, and Portobello. Customers vote on new tacos every month, building an ever-evolving menu with some favorites that have never been voted off.
“You do have to educate your client base. You do have to make them think outside of the norm,” Torres said of his time helping the public embrace his philosophy of tacos.
He believes tacos must always be eaten fresh at a taqueria, remembering his time in Mexico where tacos were made to order one at a time so none went cold. It was only during the demands of the pandemic that City Tacos grudgingly began offering takeout and delivery.
He succumbed to public demand again when adding a traditional taco menu of birria, carne asada, pollo asado and carnitas which still eschew flavorless toppings like iceberg lettuce.
Illumina board approves spinoff of GRAIL
Illumina Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the spin-off of GRAIL. GRAIL is anticipated to spin off from Illumina on June 24, 2024, and has applied to list on Nasdaq as “GRAL.” Illumina shareholders will retain their current shares of Illumina common stock and, on the distribution date, also receive one share of GRAIL common stock for every six shares of Illumina common stock held at the close of business on June 13, 2024, the record date for the distribution.
Regulus Therapeutics announces expected addition
to the Russell 3000 and Russell 2000 Indexes
Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs , announced that it expects to be added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index and the Russell 2000 Index at the conclusion of the 2024 Russell US Indexes annual reconstitution, effective at the open of US equity markets on Monday, July 1st, according to a preliminary list of additions posted Friday, May 24. Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies.
Masdar City to showcase its life sciences hub at BIO24 in San Diego
Highlighting its growing status as a leading destination for the life sciences sector, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’sflagship sustainable city in the United Arab Emirates will be participating at BIO24 in San Diego to attract U.S. organisations to expand their operations into this unique life sciences ecosystem. Masdar City’s involvement at BIO24 aligns with the Government of Abu Dhabi’sstrategic ambition – ‘Abu Dhabi Vision 2030’ – which prioritizes the development of the life sciences industry as a key driver of economic diversification.
Raken, the top-rated web and mobile app for contractors, launches the first in a series of construction AI-powered solutions for field management. AI Photo ID uses powerful facial matching technology to prevent time theft and save Raken’s customers thousands of dollars.
The California-based software developer began working on proprietary artificial intelligence enhancements in 2023. AI Photo ID is the first of several AI capabilities planned for release this year. Raken launches AI-powered construction solution for field management to verify worker identity and prevent time theft
Life Science Oklahoma to participate in BIO International Convention 2024
Oklahoma’s bioscience community is announcing a relaunch of its industry association, with the new Life Science Oklahoma bringing new leadership, a new format and renewed focus and support to businesses and organizations within the Oklahoma life sciences and healthcare communities. The new name, Life Science Oklahoma, will be formally unveiled at BIO International Convention 2024 on June 3-6, in San Diego. Life Science Oklahoma will be an important advocate for the state’s dynamic and diverse life sciences and healthcare communities.
Poseida Therapeutics announces virtual 2024 annual meeting of stockholders
Poseida Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage allogeneic cell therapy and genetic medicines company advancing differentiated non-viral treatments for patients with cancer and rare diseases, announced that its virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 1 p.m. PT. The Annual Meeting will be held through a live webcast. Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 18, 2024 are entitled to vote in the Annual Meeting.
North Island Credit Union Foundation awards
four $2,500 scholarships to local students
North Island Credit Union Foundation recently awarded four $2,500 college scholarships to local students in partnership with the North County African American Women’s Association (NCAAWA). In the fourth year of the partnership, the North Island Credit Union Foundation 2024 Scholarships were awarded through the NCAAWA’s Scholarship Program, created to assist young African American women in acquiring higher education from an academic institution. The scholarships were presented May 22 at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego in Oceanside.
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America now accepting
abstracts for speaking oppportunities at conference
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America, the industry’s premier solar, storage, and EV charging infrastructure event, is now accepting abstracts for speaking opportunities at the conference to be held Feb. 25-27, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego.
The Intersolar & Energy Storage North America conference and expo connects installers, developers, utilities, technology providers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders through innovative programming, networking events, and exhibits that maximize learning and facilitate business.
Aethlon Medical prepares for transformative phase 1 cancer treatment studies
Aethlon Medical, Inc., a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, provided the following update on its planned phase 1 safety, feasibility and dose-finding clinical trials of its Hemopurifier in patients with solid tumors who have stable or progressive disease during anti-PD-1 monotherapy treatment, such as Keytruda or Opdivo. Aethlon Medical is a medical therapeutic company focused on developing the Hemopurifier, a clinical stage immunotherapeutic device which is designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections and for use in organ transplantation.
Psylo announces firs close on $8 million Series Seed financing
Psylo, a leading biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation neuroplastogens, announced at the BIO Conference in San Diego the successful first close toward an $8 million USD Series Seed financing. This funding will accelerate the advancement of PSYLO-100X, the company’s flagship non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist, poised to revolutionize the treatment of depression and other mental health disorders. PSYLO-100X distinguishes itself from first-generation psychedelics by eliciting neuronal remodeling without causing hallucinatory effects.
