Daily Business Report: July 19, 2023
Smokers fund California’s early childhood
programs. What happens when they quit?
By Ana B. Ibarra | CalMatters
For 25 years, some of California’s best-known early childhood services have been funded by an almost ironic source: Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
That was the deal voters made when they passed Proposition 10 in 1998, levying a tobacco tax and dedicating the money for programs that would help families with young children.
The arrangement was never supposed to last forever. Advocates for youth services have known from the beginning that fewer people would smoke over time, and the funding would fall.
Now, the money for so-called First 5 California programs is starting to plummet and First 5 leaders around the state say they are beginning to trim their budgets and cut back on programs. The trend is accelerating following last year’s approval of Proposition 31 to uphold a state law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, compelling youth programs to adjust their budget assumptions.
“We all expect revenues to go down, the question is what will be the magnitude,” said Michael Ong, chair of the state’s Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee.
Photo: California cigarette tax stamps on packs of cigarettes at a liquor store. (Photo by Jonathan Alcorn, Reuters, via CalMatters)
California gets money over Trump border wall
CalMatters
Two times during the Trump years, California led a coalition of states suing the administration, claiming it was illegally diverting tax money to build the border wall.
Now, there’s a new president. And on Monday, California’s attorney general announced a settlement with the Biden administration to stop the disputed wall construction and provide money to help restore environmental damage.
Specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will give the state $25 million to help an environmental nonprofit buy 1,200 acres (known as the Otay Village 14 property) in San Diego County near the border — or if the group can’t come up with the other $35 million, to fund conservation projects in the Proctor Valley/Lower Otay Lakes area. Under the settlement, the department will also provide $1.1 million to monitor endangered species and install wildlife passages in the border area for those animals.
“The Trump Border Wall is officially a relic of the past, which is where it belongs,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.
All-electric mobile harbor cranes
arrive at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal
The Port of San Diego’s two new all-electric Gottwald Generation 6 Mobile Harbor Cranes from Konecranes have been delivered to the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT). The new cranes are the first of their kind in North America and will help the Port improve public health and air quality, a significant milestone in bringing cleaner air to the communities of Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, and West National City.
The cranes are anticipated to be operational later this year. The Port ordered the battery supported electric cranes from Konecranes for approximately $14 million and spent an additional $8.9 million to make the needed electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes. They will replace the diesel-powered crane currently in use at TAMT.
$1.5 million donation supports research
on effects of psychedelic DMT on the brain
By Jade Griffin | UC San Diego
One of the most powerful psychedelics known, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) has been described as causing imaginative visuals akin to the dream state. It is typically consumed on its own or in ayahuasca, a ceremonial brew that has been used for spiritual and visionary purposes by indigenous cultures for centuries. Some have expressed that DMT helped address psychological ailments such as depression and addiction, promoting emotional well-being. However, the way that DMT impacts the brain, body and health is largely unknown.
A gift of $1.5 million from Eugene Jhong will help launch a new research program within the UC San Diego Psychedelic and Health Research Initiative to learn more about the biological and psychological effects of DMT in humans.
29 ballot drop boxes open for
District 4 special primary election
Registered voters in the Fourth Supervisorial District can return their mail ballot at any one of 29 official ballot drop boxes located around the district. Mail ballots are enroute to nearly 400,000 registered voters in the Fourth Supervisorial District for the Aug. 15 special primary election and some voters may have received theirs as early as Monday.
What do the Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes look like?
The Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes are red, white, and blue and feature the Registrar’s logo along with the county seal. All boxes are labeled “Official Ballot Drop Box” and constructed from high grade, heavy gauge stainless steel.
SDSUxComic-Con: IDW founders
collection enhances comics library
By Rebecca Williamson | SDSU
It’s a completist’s dream: Every issue, every title, every year. From a “My Little Pony” tie-in to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ highly acclaimed graphic memoir of the civil rights movement, the founders of IDW have given San Diego State University a copy of each comic published under its imprints from the day it was launched by four people in a windowless office above a Pacific Beach Tower Records store.
The IDW Founders Collection of more than 20,000 titles, donated last year, enhanced an already robust Comic Arts Collection of more than 100,000 titles maintained at the University Library.
From the very beginning, Ted Adams and Robbie Robbins kept a copy of everything that they published — a new title would come out, and they would toss a copy in a box. As the boxes filled, they were moved to a storage facility. Now they’re housed at SDSU.
After almost 20 years with the company they founded, Adams and Robbins left IDW in 2018 to start Clover Press the following year. They continued to purchase IDW books published after their departure to keep the collection complete.
Soccer icon Alex Morgan and Rady
Children’s Hospital announce partnership
SAN DIEGO — Alex Morgan, forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team and San Diego Wave FC, announced a partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego that furthers her mission with the Alex Morgan Foundation to support mothers and help raise the next generation of healthy and inspired kids.
“Shortly after moving to Southern California with my family and putting down roots in San Diego, I became aware of Rady Children’s outstanding reputation and commitment to families,” said Morgan. “I’m so proud to partner with the best in pediatric health care, whose mission and standard of excellence align with my personal values and the core pillars of my foundation.”
Borrego Springs now served by County Fire
SAN DIEGO — The community of Borrego Springs is now served by San Diego County Fire through its partnership with CAL FIRE. County Fire increased staff to expand services to the area. Borrego Springs Fire Station 60 will remain an Advanced Life Support Station and added resources will strengthen the ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of those in the community.
Wild Horse Labs and ADP
announce partnership
SAN DIEGO — Wild Horse Labs Inc. and ADP announce their partnership to deliver innovative solutions for businesses. By combining Wild Horse Labs’ expertise, connections, and money in accelerating business growth, with ADP’s industry-leading provider of human resources, payroll, management software and services, the two companies are collaborating to bring unprecedented value to their customers. The partnership will focus on advising, providing needed support, and tools necessary to help our clients grow profitably.
Alliance for Genomic Discovery
announce founding members
SAN DIEGO — Illumina Inc., in collaboration with Nashville Biosciences LLC, a leading clinical and genomic data company and wholly owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, announced the five founding members of the Alliance for Genomic Discovery. The multiyear agreement aims to accelerate development of therapeutics through large-scale genomics and the establishment of a preeminent clinical genomic resource. Member organizations AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Merck will co-fund the whole-genome sequencing of 250,000 samples and have access to the resulting data for use in drug discovery and therapeutic development.
500 homes closed at Touchstone
Communities’ Park Circle
VALLEY CENTER — Touchstone Communities announced the achievement of a significant milestone at its master-planned community, Park Circle, in Valley Center — the closing of its 500th home. This achievement marks a momentous occasion for the 632-home community, which opened its first model complex in spring 2020, and underscores its continued growth and success. To date, over 550 homes have been sold. Shea Homes and Beazer Homes have sold all of their Park Circle residences, while KB Home, Meritage Homes, and Richmond American Homes are nearing sell-out.
Cireson announces new enterprise level
plan for cloud-basee service desk Tikit
SAN DIEGO — Cireson, the experts in Microsoft Service Management and a Gold Certified Microsoft partner, announced the release of its new Microsoft 365 (M365) ITSM plan for Tikit. Tikit is a M365 ITSM Platform that matures with your Microsoft 365 adoption. This new, more advanced plan elevates Tikit to serve larger, more process-mature organizations. The Microsoft 365 ITSM plan is the third plan offering for the Tikit prcoduct. Tikit was launched in early 2021 as a simple Microsoft Teams ticketing system for organizations of any size.
Rakuten Medical to host virtual
R&D Day on Aug. 10
SAN DIEGO — Rakuten Medical Inc., a global biotechnology company developing and commercializing precision, cell-targeting photo immunotherapy-based on its proprietary Alluminox platform, announced it will host a virtual R&D Day on the preliminary safety and efficacy findings from its study of Alluminox treatment. The webinar will take place on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Rakuten Medical’s technology consists of drug and device components and which Rakuten Medical hopes will become a potential fifth pillar of cancer treatment.
Ascent releases first Impact Report: ‘Invest in Change’
SAN DIEGO — Ascent, a leader in outcomes-based lending and student success, released its first Impact Report. With the commitment to “Invest in Change,” the report showcases the transformative strides Ascent has made by following a data-driven and outcomes-focused approach to serving students and adult learners. Ascent’s 2023 Impact Report highlights how its innovative financial products, success services, and talented team have driven positive outcomes for students seeking additional education funding to achieve long-term success.
QDOBA wins USA Today’s 10Best
list for ‘Best Casual Restaurant’
SAN DIEGO — QDOBA, a leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant, has been named by USA Today 10Best Awards as the nation’s “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” for the fifth consecutive year. A panel of experts selected 20 nominees and then invited the public to vote on their favorite restaurants that offer easy and quick access to food without sacrificing quality. For more information about the 10Best Awards and to see the full list of winners across multiple categories, visit www.10best.com. To learn more about QDOBA or to find a location near you, visit www.QDOBA.com.
Sendlane launches reviews product
available to all customers
SAN DIEGO — Sendlane announces the launch of Sendlane Reviews, a fully integrated reviews product available to all Sendlane customers at no additional cost. This new release is the most recent product addition to the company’s unified email, SMS, and marketing automation functions. Sendlane’s free reviews tool delivers a simple and effective solution to fully integrated review collection, management, and dynamic display without additional platforms or costs. The new tool enables merchants to automatically collect, monitor, respond, and dynamically display reviews on-site and within marketing messages — all within Sendlane’s unified platform.
