Daily Business Report: Thursday, April 21, 2022
Debt-free college: California’s on verge of spending
over a half-billion dollars to help 360,000 students
by Mikhail Zinshteyn | CalMatters
California is on track to remove any reason for its public university students to take out student loans.
Known as Middle Class Scholarship 2.0, the “debt-free” program is slated to receive its first infusion of money this summer: a cool $632 million that lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom promised in last year’s state budget that they said they’d fund this year.
If that money appears in the state’s budget this June, an anticipated 246,000 California State University students and 114,000 University of California students will receive this aid to help finance their educations starting this fall. Students at other California campuses, including community colleges, are ineligible.
The money will have an immediate impact on low- and middle-class students whose families generally earn less than $201,000. The exact amounts students receive will vary, but grants will range between $1,000 and just over $3,000 on average in the program’s first phase. Students in higher-income households will typically get the larger amounts to make up for the lack of aid they receive from other state and federal grants.
The awards reflect a portion of what students would get if lawmakers funded the whole $2.6 billion price tag. By committing $632 million this fall, the state is funding 24 percent of the program’s total cost, so each eligible student would receive 24 percent of the total amount they’d get were the scholarship fully funded.
TOP PHOTO: Students on campus of Cal State San Marcos.
Oceanside approves downtown
shuttle service for tourist season
Oceanside has approved an electric vehicle shuttle service for visitors and residents downtown for six months starting Memorial Day weekend.
“With most COVID-19 restrictions lifting … this summer will be a busy one for tourism,” states a staff report by Economic Development Manager Michelle Geller.
“A shuttle service will move passengers around more quickly and efficiently, alleviate parking congestion, and present a fun, new amenity for Oceanside residents and visitors,” Geller said in the report.
The city collaborated with FordX, an experimental arm of Ford Motor Co., to provide a six-week pilot shuttle program at no cost to the city in 2019. The program received “overwhelmingly positive feedback,” but was not repeated in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.
State lawmakers advance four bills
to tighten California gun control laws
California lawmakers advanced four bills to tighten California’s strict gun control laws, three of which are part of a package of legislation co-sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
One proposal would permit individuals and the attorney general to sue firearm manufacturers and sellers for harm caused by their products; another would tighten restrictions on untraceable “ghost guns”; and a third would ban the marketing of some weapons to children. The fourth bill would require licensed firearm dealers to install video surveillance systems in their stores — San Jose approved a similar measure after experiencing a mass shooting last May.
San Diego to host July 29 Transplant Games
The Transplant Games, billed as the world’s largest celebration of life, is bringing more than 10,000 transplant recipients, caregivers, living donors, families of deceased donors, transplant professionals and others to San Diego July 29 th Aug. 3 at the San Diego Convention Center.
The Transplant Games honor the lasting legacy of donors who gave the ultimate gift of life,
highlight the need for and importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, celebrate the
success of transplantation, and increase the national and state registry numbers.
Sports San Diego and the SDCCU Holiday Bowl secured the bid for San Diego to host the event, a production of the Transplant Life Foundation.
San Diego Port Tenants Association changes
name to ‘San Diego Working Waterfront’
The San Diego Port Tenants Association is changing its name to San Diego Working Waterfront to celebrate the people who power San Diego’s port.
“After 35 years, the new name and logo showcases that the association has transformed from a group of port leaseholders into an organization of 800 waterfront businesses and workers who are dedicated to advancing the economic and environmental vitality of the port tidelands in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego,” the organization said in a statement.
San Diego’s regional waterfront employs more than 44,000 people in industries and family-owned businesses such as restaurants, ship building, cargo, sportfishing, recreation, tourism and hospitality.
“The rebranding is about more than a new name and look – it’s about demonstrating that the businesses and people who make San Diego Bay an economic and cultural powerhouse are committed to speaking out for policies that will help our port thrive.” the organization said.
Former assistant U.S. Attorney joins
Barnes & Thornburg’s San Diego office
Andrew “Drew” Galvin, former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s San Diego office as a partner. Galvin is the fourth former assistant U.S. attorney to join the office since 2019.
Galvin joins the firm’s litigation team, where he will leverage his experience to provide targeted counsel for clients in white collar criminal defense, complex business litigation, compliance, and internal investigations.
The firm’s White Collar, Compliance and Investigations practice now has nearly 30 former federal prosecutors who have experience with and relationships at over a dozen U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country.
During his time as an assistant U.S. Attorney, Galvin was the office’s financial fraud coordinator and investigated and prosecuted complex white collar matters, including securities fraud, extortion, tax offenses, art forgery, investment fraud, money laundering, procurement fraud, public corruption, mortgage fraud, and embezzlement.
Notably, Galvin prosecuted the architect of a $400 million Ponzi scheme – the largest in the history of the Southern District of California.
Maureen Forsyth joins Hartley LLP
law firm in San Diego
Experienced litigator Maureen Forsyth has joined San Diego-based plaintiff’s law firm Hartley LLP.
Forsyth brings a wide breadth of experience to Hartley LLP, specifically related to antitrust and class action cases. She has significant experience managing the electronic discovery of monster cases, developing legal theories on challenging and unique issues of antitrust law and at trial. She has litigated some of the largest class actions in the country over the past several years.
Her practice has also included performing factual and legal analysis and supporting case development through all phases of discovery including summary judgment.
Prior to joining Hartley LLP, Forsyth practiced at national class action firm Robbins, Geller, Rudman and Dowd, and previously, Robbins LLP.
Forsyth earned her law degree from Suffolk University School of Law, and previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Forsyth is licensed to practice in both the District of Columbia and the state of Massachusetts. When she isn’t practicing law, Forsyth is training for and participating in marathons and triathlons.
Southpaw Vet opens in Civita
Southpaw Vet, a full-service veterinary practice, is celebrating its grand opening in Civita at 7995 Civita Blvd, Suite 3, in San Diego. The veterinary practice is a family-owned, independent clinic, operated by veterinarian Joshua Yonas, DVM, and Matt Worthey, hospital manager. The clinic, which features a fully equipped surgical suite, provide a wide range of services from annual exams and preventative care to advanced surgical procedures by a board-certified surgeon and complete dental care.
Catering exclusively to dogs and cats, Southpaw Vet is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The opening of Southpaw is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and dedication to animals and their owners, and we’re proud to be the newest addition to the neighborhood,” said Yonas. “
Southpaw Vet is the first retail business to open in Civita. Other local businesses expected to open soon include El Tianguis Rolled Taquitos and LA Fitness. Plans call for a total of 480,000 square feet of retailers, dining venues, and entertainment.
SeaWorld San Diego reopens upgraded Turtle Reef
SeaWorld San Diego has introduced a newly enhanced and upgraded Turtle Reef, an environmental habitat to sea turtles including Bruce, a rescued and non-releasable green sea turtle, that all receive SeaWorld’s animal care and expertise.
The habitat had been closed since October 2021 for enhancements and upgrades and recently reopened to the public. The sea turtles are among more than 250 different species of animals at SeaWorld San Diego, an accredited zoological facility, that guests can see while at the park.
Eight new skylights were added to allow natural sunlight to filter in over the animals in addition to a new large and now seamless main viewing window. Additional species of tropical fish are currently being added to the habitat. Flooring throughout the guest viewing areas has been enhanced and repainted, along with the addition of new themed rocks, and additional air conditioning ducts, to improve the guest experience as they move through the area.
Endeavor Bank gets Super Premier Performance
rating from The Findley Reports
San Diego’s Endeavor Bank has achieved a Super Premier Performance rating by The Findley Reports based upon its 2021 operating results. Endeavor Bank is one of 84 banks who received a Super Premier rating, the most prestigious of The Findley Reports’ recognition tiers.
“We are proud to be recognized as a Super Premier Performing Bank, the highest rating offered by The Findley Reports,” said Endeavor Bank CEO Dan Yates. “This designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Endeavor Bank team.”
“Endeavor Bank’s reputation for hands-on, consultative banking grew throughout Southern California in 2021, thanks to our team and our advocates,” said Endeavor Bank President Steve Sefton. “We’re tremendously grateful to have such loyal and dedicated shareholders and clients who encouraged other business owners to turn to Endeavor Bank for banking, loans and more.
San Diego Padres join San Diego Community Power
San Diego Community Power (SDCP), the not-for-profit community choice energy program, announced the San Diego Padres decision to opt-up to SDCP’s Power100 service tier.
SDCP will now be providing Petco Park and its affiliated facilities 100 percent renewable and carbon free energy. This announcement only furthers the growing partnership between the Padres and SDCP, which also sponsors “Tonight’s Lights” at all Padres home games, and will be the game day sponsor of the Fernando Tatis Jr. Player’s Hat Giveaway on June 8. The Padres now join a growing list of Power100 Champions, including Sharp Healthcare, the San Diego International Airport and Illumina.
County puts on Earth Day celebration on Friday
The county will put on an Earth Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the County Operations Center at 5520 Overland Ave. featuring planting activities at the County’s Demonstration Garden, electric fleet vehicles on display and information about numerous Earth-saving topics.
In addition to getting the opportunity to watch plantings and talking to master gardeners, the public can learn about recycling, water quality, stormwater protection, rain barrels, farmers markets and organics.
County parks officials will also be there to talk about the tree plantings, recycling and composting being done in County parks. Agriculture, Weights and Measures officials will have tables with information about invasive pests, farmers markets and organic food. Environmental health officials will be on hand to talk about household hazardous waste and vectors — pests like rats and mosquitoes that can transmit disease.
Attendees can also hear updates about the County’s Climate Action Plan and regional decarbonization efforts.
Linear Systems Inc. to return to
California manufacturing exhibition
Linear Integrated Systems Inc. announced it will be exhibiting at the Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show (DMEMS) being held May 4-5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
DMEMS is the main exhibition showcasing California design and manufacturing capabilities in the electronics, medical and biotech industries. This year is the first time the exhibition has been held since 2019. Linear Systems has been a part of the exhibition for over 10 years, and this year will be at Booth 310. The event showcases California electronics manufacturers.
Linear Systems is a full-service, privately-held, 35-year-old designer and manufacturer of small-signal discrete semiconductors.
