Daily Business Report-May 25, 2017
The 1927 California Theatre’s facade would be reproduced and a 40-story residential tower would replace the theater auditorium in the plan for the project called ‘Overture.’ (Rendering courtesy of Martinez + Cutri)
SOHO Sues City of San Diego in Effort
to Halt Demolition of California Theatre
SOHO, the Save Our Heritage Organisation, has filed suit against the city of San Diego in an effort to halt the demolition of the California Theatre, claiming that its approval by the San Diego City Council was a violation of The California Environmental Quality Act.
Sloan Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based developer, received permission from the council to build a 40-story residential complex — the Overture — on the theater site. Jim Bartell, a spokesman for the developer, said a demolition permit application is being processed through the city. The lawsuit “was not unexpected and we’re confident we’re going to prevail,” Bartell told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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General Atomics Win Contract for
Arresting System on Future USS Enterprise
San Diego’s General Atomics has won a $195 million contract to install an electric arresting system on the future USS Enterprise.
The new ship will be the third to feature the Advanced Arresting Gear system, which couples electric motors with steel cables to catch and stop a landing jet, reducing manpower and maintenance requirements.
The Navy once considered cancelling the arresting gear program and reverting to a system used on the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. However, the new system recently marked the 350th successful test landing of an F/A-18E Super Hornet.
The Enterprise will be the third Ford-class carrier built for the Navy by Huntington Ingalls Industries. The lead ship in the class, USS Gerald R. Ford, started sea trials in April and is expected to be delivered in September.
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Lawmakers May Wait on
Governor’s Ambitious Pension Plan
As Sacramento kicks off its yearly scramble to pass a state budget, lawmakers have yet to agree whether one controversial provision will make the cut: an untested $6 billion scheme that the governor says could save the state billions more but that some analysts warn has received too little scrutiny.
As part of his revised budget proposal issued earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown introduced a novel plan to make an early, super-sized payment on the state’s public pension obligations by borrowing from a little-known government account. State and local agencies currently face a $359 billion shortfall on pension and health benefits for public retirees, and this one-time payment would effectively double Sacramento’s scheduled contribution.
But the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, which advises lawmakers on fiscal matters, says the administration has not provided enough evidence or analysis to back up its claims that the proposal will generate $11 billion in taxpayer savings.
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ViaCyte Moves to Human Trial
With New Diabetes Product
San Diego-based ViaCyte said it is ready to move into human testing with a new product intended for patients with Type 1 diabetes who are at high risk for acute, life-threatening complications from severe episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
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Researchers Find Computer Code VW
Used to Cheat Emissions Tests
An international team of researchers has uncovered the mechanism that allowed Volkswagen to circumvent U.S. and European emission tests over at least six years before the Environmental Protection Agency put the company on notice in 2015 for violating the Clean Air Act.
Read more…
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Boutique Law Firms Local Chapter Expands
The San Diego chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms — a collection of legal specialists with complementary practice areas throughout San Diego County — announced that it has grown to 11 firms. The network offers clients combined expertise equal to a regional/national law firm, along with the personalized attention of a small firm. To get the list, click here
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Personnel Announcements
Finch, Thornton & Baird Adds 2 Attorneys
The California construction industry law firm of Finch, Thornton & Baird LLP has added two new attorneys to its ranks — Derek J. Onysko and Jeanne W. Murray.
Onysko practices in the areas of construction law, business and commercial litigation, and federal procurement while representing clients in matters involving state, local government, federal and private construction projects.
Onysko received his juris doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a real estate, construction and business litigation attorney in Park City, Utah.
Murray works with in-house counsel, business owners and executives to provide legal expertise in construction law, business and commercial litigation, and government and regulatory law. Murray’s practice focuses on bringing effective and efficient resolution to matters involving public and private works disputes, subcontractor listing and substitution issues, surety bond claims, and construction defect claims.
Following her service as a naval flight officer and A-6 Intruder bombardier/navigator for the U.S. Navy, Murray served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
