Daily Business Report: July 1, 2024
Supreme Court gives cities in California and
beyond the power to crack down on homeless camps
By Marisa Kendall | CalMatters
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday granted cities more power to arrest, cite and fine people who sleep outside in public places — overturning six years of legal protections for homeless residents in California and other western states.
In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the court sided with Grants Pass in a 6-3 decision, ruling that an ordinance passed by the Oregon city that essentially made it illegal for homeless residents to camp on all public property was not unconstitutional. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — all Democratic appointees — dissented.
The much-anticipated decision overturns a prior influential Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, and means cities no longer are prohibited from punishing unhoused residents for camping if they have nowhere else to go. It will have major ramifications for how California leaders and law enforcement handle homeless encampments.
Now it’s up to western cities to decide whether to use existing ordinances or pass new ones to banish, cite or arrest homeless campers when no alternative shelter exists.
San Francisco is among cities ready to seize the new power. “This decision” Mayor London Breed told a news conference, “has really provided us with clarity that we will use in order to be a lot more aggressive with people who are choosing to stay on the streets of San Francisco — especially when we’re offering them help.”
Top photo: Tents outside the First Street U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles on April 22, 2024. (Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters)
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Design of world’s first hydrogen-hybrid research vessel approved
Scripps Oceanography research vessel will use liquid hydrogen fuel cells to enable zero-emission operation
By Alex Fox, Lauren Fimbres Wood | UC San Diego
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) approved the preliminary design of a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-hybrid research vessel that will join the fleet at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography when completed.
The vessel’s design was developed by naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten. Approval of the preliminary design shows that it meets technical requirements and safety standards, and lays the groundwork for the expanded use of zero-emission hydrogen-powered propulsion at sea.
The ship will feature an innovative hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that will allow it to operate with no greenhouse gas or other emissions for 75 percent of its missions – and for all of its time operating in state waters. For longer missions farther offshore, extra power will be provided by clean-running modern diesel generators. The zero-emissions-capable vessel represents a major step toward advancing California’s pledge to reduce global climate risk while transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy and making progress towards the University of California’s climate action goals.
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Viasat to deliver broadband SATCOM
on Airbus’ C295 MPA Fleet for Spain
Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, announced that it is expanding its work with Airbus Defence and Space to provide its secure, flexible broadband Ku- and Ka-band airborne technology for the Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) that have been acquired by the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Viasat and Airbus Defence and Space will collaborate on the integration of Viasat’s dual-band (Ku/Ka) broadband terminal, the GAT-5530, into the Spanish C295 MPA fleet to provide a highly flexible, multi-band and multi-orbit, broadband SATCOM capability to support missions utilizing the sovereign, next-generation SpainSat NG satellites.
The integrated Viasat GAT-5530 terminal will deliver secure, reliable satellite connectivity to the Airbus C295 MPA aircraft, enhancing the Spanish military’s capabilities with resilient broadband SATCOM to support sovereign national security mission needs – including expanded command and control (C2) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications.
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Illumina completes spin-off of GRAIL
Illumina Inc. on June 24 announced the successful completion of the spin-off of GRAIL. This milestone follows the company’s previously announced plans to divest GRAIL, and GRAIL is now a public and independent company. GRAIL began trading on Nasdaq on Tuesday, June 25 under the ticker symbol “GRAL.” Illumina will continue to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “ILMN.”
“With the completion of the spin-off of GRAIL, we have achieved our goal of divesting GRAIL in a manner that allows its breakthrough technology to continue benefiting patients,” said Jacob Thaysen, CEO of Illumina. “Illumina will maintain a minority share of 14.5 percent in the company. GRAIL plays a critical role in the fight against cancer, and while the company is no longer part of Illumina, we remain confident in its future and will continue to support GRAIL with our sequencing technology, end-to-end workflows, and suite of services.æ
Successful first flight reported of Kratos’ Erinyes Hypersonic Test Bed
Defense technology company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. announced that its Space & Missile Defense Systems Business Unit, a part of Kratos’ Defense & Rocket Support Systems Division, supported the successful launch and flight of the Kratos Erinyes Hypersonic Test Bed on June 12, 2024 from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This successful first flight of the Erinyes vehicle demonstrates a new and novel platform capability for rapid hypersonic experimentation for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The exercise, designated Hypersonic Test Bed-1 (HTB-1), demonstrated hypersonic flight that enabled the collection of data for multiple experiments to be provided to test teams for design validation and evaluation of new technologies.
MiraCosta College President Sunita V. Cook elected board
president of American Association of Community Colleges
MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Sunita V. Cooke has been elected president of the board of directors for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). She will be the first Indian-born person (Desi) to lead the board in its 104-year history. AACC is the primary advocacy organization for more than 1,000 associate degree-granting institutions nationwide.
Cooke will assume the role on July 1. AACC, based in Washington, D.C., advocates for community colleges with federal legislators and agencies and promotes community colleges through leadership development, policy initiatives, innovative programs, research, and outreach to business, industry, and the national news media.
Cooke, an educator for over 28 years, has served as superintendent/president of MiraCosta College since 2015. She came to MiraCosta from Grossmont College (also in San Diego County), where she served as president for nearly eight years.
Cooke is an active member of the greater San Diego community, state, and national boards, including Biocom and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Council, and co-chairs its Inclusive Economic Development Steering Committee.
Ricardo De La Fuente appointed to California Community Colleges Board of Governors
Ricardo De La Fuente, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
De La Fuente has been a Managing Partner at American International Enterprises Inc. since 2014.
He was President and Co-Founder of Streich Solar Industries from 2011 to 2013.
De La Fuente was a Sponsorship Director at the Harvard WECAN Conference from 2009 to 2010.
He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and YPO Global Diplomacy Network. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. De La Fuente is a Democrat.
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General Atomics develops tool to support fusion experiments
General Atomics has developed a new sophisticated tool combining automation, robotics, and machine learning, dubbed 4Pi, to enhance target selection for Inertial Confinement Fusion experiments. This system has contributed to at least five instances of fusion ignition, starting with the first successful experiment in December 2023, and has significantly improved experimental outcomes.
Bright Peak Therapeutics raises $90 million Series C
Bright Peak Therapeutics, which develops innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, has raised $90 million in Series C funding, totaling more than $197 million to date. The funding will support the advancement of its lead drug candidate, which targets and stimulates signals for treating various tumor types, with clinical trials expected to begin later this year.
Parabilis Space Technologies supports Space Force, NASA
Parabilis Space Technologies Inc., which focuses on affordable propulsion systems for small satellites, recently received a contract to develop the Dense Orbital Transfer System for the U.S. Space Force and is also working on the Hybrid Orbital Transfer Stage for NASA. The San Marcos-based company plans to expand its team by hiring 10 more engineers to support the new contracts.
UC San Diego rises to No. 6 in The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges 2024
The University of California San Diego has risen to the No. 6 public university in the nation for students seeking stellar academics and a great career foundation at an affordable cost, according to the Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges for 2024 ranking. The Best Value Colleges for 2024 named 209 schools as “Best Values” and recognized top schools for various distinctions in seven ranking list categories. The lists are based on more than 40 data points that cover academics, affordability and career outcomes of graduates.
Northrop Grumman receives $189 million Air Force Contract
Northrop Grumman has secured a potential two-year, $189 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide Combat Air Forces Distributed Mission Operations services. The Department of Defense said the sole-source contract includes the development of a virtual environment designed to facilitate distributed training events, including large-scald exercises and daily team training, for Air Force trainers across the world.
South Carlsbad State Beach is one of the most in-demand parks for camping
According to camping website CampScanner, South Carlsbad State Beach is one of the most in-demand parks for camping in the U.S. over the next few months, ranking in the top 10 alongside heavy-hitters like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Zion national parks. The narrow stretch of coastline that makes up South Carlsbad State Beach hosts about 220 camping spots — sites that are almost always fully booked, CampScanner says. The demand was enough to place the park at No. 9 on the most popular campsite list. Unsurprisingly, Yosemite National Park took the top spot as the park with the highest demand for camping this summer.
Americans dabble with ‘microdosing’
Loosening local, state, and federal regulations on cannabis and psychedelics has increased Americans’ interest in microdosing, according to a study from researchers at the University of California San Diego. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study found that the rate of microdosing-related Google searches grew by 1,250 percent from 2015 to 2023, with over three million searches in 2023 alone. This surge in interest correlates with recent legislative changes decriminalizing or authorizing the use of psychedelic substances in therapy and permitting recreational cannabis use. The research fills a gap in understanding how policy changes affect substance use patterns.
Public memorial set for Aug. 24 for artist, sculptor James Hubbell
A public memorial to honor the life of the iconic artist, sculptor, passionate naturalist, devoted friend, and gifted teacher, James Hubbell, will take place from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at his “Pearl of the Pacific” Pacific Rim Park on Shelter Island. A talented yet humble man, Hubbell’s wide-ranging creative legacy is famously expressed through his organic “habitable sculptures” in Santa Ysabel called “Ilan Lael,” meaning “tree that is a gift from God.” Ilan Lael serves as a home for his nonprofit Ilan-Lael Foundation, an art education organization and nature center founded by Hubbell and his wife in 1982.
Airport Authority’s administration building awarded Gold certification
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority announced that its newly constructed Administration Building has been awarded the Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. LEED is the most widely used green-building rating system in the world and an international symbol of environmental responsibility. The 135,000 square-foot, four-story office building located on the southwest corner of the San Diego International Airport (SAN) campus earned this prestigious rating by meeting specific sustainability benchmarks for energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection, and waste reduction.
Funds restored for California State Library Parks Pass
California State Parks Foundation announced the restoration of funding for a popular state park access program, the California State Library Parks Pass. the Legislature and the governor reached a joint budget deal that restores one year of funding or $6.75 million for the program, allowing the effort to continue through Dec. 31, 2025. The California State Library Parks Pass gives library card holders free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state parks. Since the start of the program, 33,000 California State Library Parks Passes have been placed in more than 1,100 public libraries. Libraries report that these passes are one of their most checked-out items.
Padres Pedal the Cause raises more than $3 million for cancer research
San Diego-based Curebound, a philanthropic organization that raises and invests strategic funding in translational cancer research projects, announced its 2024 Padres Pedal the Cause, hosted in partnership with the San Diego Padres in April, raised over $3 million to accelerate new cancer research discoveries to clinical application. The event hosted a record 4,100-plus participants at Petco Park to cycle, spin, run, walk and celebrate their successful fundraising efforts for lifesaving cancer research. Now in its 12th year and under the umbrella of Curebound, the Padres Pedal the Cause event has raised $24 million-plus by mobilizing survivors, families, friends, doctors, scientists, corporate partners, and volunteers.
