San Diego, CA
Daily Business Report: May 21, 2024, San Diego Metro Magazine
California’s life science industry
generates $414.2 billion annually
Biocom California, the association representing the California life science industry, released a new report Monday showing California’s life science industry directly provides more than 465,000 jobs in the state and generates $414.2 billion in total business output. Biocom California’s 2024 Economic Impact Report outlines these and other key findings about the state’s life science industry, including information on economic, demographic, investment, and industry performance data. The full report analysis and regional fact sheets are available on the Biocom California website.
Key facts from the report include the following
- In aggregate, the industry supported approximately 1.24 million jobs in 2023, including direct, indirect, and induced employment.
- Public research funding to life science in organizations in California remains robust, with researchers in the state receiving a total of $6.02 billion in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2023.
- In 2023, the life science industry in California experienced a modest 0.6% contraction in employment, influenced by nationwide workforce reductions by major biopharmaceutical companies.
- More than $840 million in investments in biotechnology manufacturing and R&D infrastructure across all California life science clusters ensures that facilities are available to meet the industry’s growing needs.
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Amid big deficit, latest state budget cuts funding for UC and Cal State systems
By Mikhail Zinshteyn | CalMatters
Chalk it up to California dreaming: Not even three years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised California’s public universities five years of annual growth in state support totaling more than $2 billion.
But the governor’s updated budget plan for next year instead aims to cut the University of California and California State University by a combined $200 million in response to the state’s project multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.
The five-year compact is at risk of turning into a humbler two-year vow, underscoring the difficulty of projecting multiple years of support for California’s top generators of bachelor’s degree recipients — a state particularly at the mercy of large revenue swings.
The UC would see a $125 million base funding cut in 2024-25, with plans to restore that dip in 2025-26. For Cal State, the governor’s May budget revision includes a $75 million cut that’ll be restored in 2025-26.
The numbers were shared with CalMatters after it sought more detail from the California Department of Finance about its higher-education plans that are part of the annual May Revise process. It’s an update to the governor’s initial January proposal and sets the stage for intense budget negotiations with the Legislature to finalize a state budget by late June. The 2024-25 budget year begins July 1.
Read more
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Sacramento Report: big cuts to state homelessness dollars
Voice of San Diego
As California faces a large budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing big cuts to homeless spending. Advocates warn that could set back years-long efforts to get people into housing.
They’re particularly incensed about his plan to eliminate the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Grant Program, which contributed $1 billion per year to shelters, safe parking and outreach programs for the past five years.
Last year the city of San Diego got nearly $30 million from the program, which covered more than 1,000 shelter beds. Officials say they will face “tough choices” if those funds are cut.
Also on the homeless front, some state lawmakers are reconsidering sober housing options, after years of rejecting that in favor of a housing first policy.
Read the Sacramento Report here.
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Fifth and Penn mixed-use property in Hillcrest sells for $1.7 million
Fifth and Penn, a 2,867-square-foot mixed-use property in Hillcrest, has sold for $1.7 million. The buyer was Daniel Heimler of DAH Penn LLC. The seller was Tom Fine of TJF Fifth Ave. LLC.
Located at 441—43 Pennsylvania Ave., the property consists of a ground floor restaurant, one apartment unit and a creative offic space on the second floor. The restaurant and office tenants will remain in the building and the buyer plans on livint in the apartment unit in the rear of the property.
Sanchez and Nick Totah, senior vice president investments for The Totah Group of Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller.
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Detecting odors on the edge: Researchers
decipher how insects smell more with less
By Mario Aguilero | UC San Diego
Whether it’s the wafting aroma of our favorite meal or the dangerous fumes seeping from a toxic chemical, the human sense of smell has evolved into a sophisticated system that processes scents through several intricate stages. The brains of mammals have billions of neurons at their disposal to recognize odors they are exposed to, from pleasant to pungent.
Insects such as fruit flies, on the other hand, have a mere 100,000 neurons to work with. Yet their survival is dependent upon their ability to decipher the meaning of complex odor mixtures around them to locate food, seek potential mates and avoid predators. Scientists have pondered how insects are able to smell, or extract information from odors , with a much smaller olfactory sensory system compared with mammals.
Scientists at the University of California San Diego believe they have an answer to this puzzling question. Palka Puri, a physics Ph.D. student, together with Postdoctoral Scholar Shiuan-Tze Wu, Associate Professor Chih-Ying Su and Assistant Professor Johnatan Aljadeff (all in the Department of Neurobiology) have uncovered how fruit flies use a simple, efficient system to recognize odors.
Read more:
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Del Mar high school student wins $50,000 in science and engineering awards
Krish Pai, 17, of Del Mar, received the second Regeneron Young Scientist Award of $50,000 from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Society for Science for his machine-learning research to identify microbial genetic sequences that can be modified to biodegrade plastic. His new software, called Microby, scans databases of microorganisms and determines which ones can be changed genetically to biodegrade plastics. In tests, he identified two microorganisms that can be genetically modified to degrade plastic at a cost he believes would be ten times less than traditional recycling.
Realty Income announces common stock dividend increase of 2.1 percent
Realty Income Corporation announced it has declared an increase in the company’s common stock monthly cash dividend to $0.2625 per share from $0.2570 per share. The dividend is payable on June 14, 2024, to stockholders of record as of June 3, 2024. This is the 125th dividend increase since Realty Income’s listing on the NYSE in 1994. The new monthly dividend represents an annualized dividend amount of $3.150 per share as compared to the prior annualized dividend amount of $3.084 per share.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund celebrates 20-year anniversary
Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a San Diego-based national veteran nonprofit organization that provides lifetime support to critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans and military families, celebrated its 20th anniversary on May 17. Since 2004, The Fund has provided holistic support to over 33,000 service members, veterans, and military families. It offers personalized case management, meaningful connections, and lifelong assistance to individuals from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Chosen Foods earns acclaimed B Corp Certification
Chosen Foods, America’s #1 Avocado Oil and one of few on shelves that is guaranteed to be 100 percent pure, announced that it is now certified as a B Corporation. This accomplishment reinforces the brand’s commitment to a range of sustainable practices encompassing environmental performance, business standards, governance, community involvement, and customer engagement. To achieve B Corp Certification, companies must undergo a rigorous assessment process and meet a B Impact Assessment score of at least 80.
Nature Communications publishes results of vaccine
Global biotechnology leader and San Diego-based Arcturus Therapeutics announce Nature Communications has published results from an integrated phase 1/2/3a/3b study evaluating the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of ARCT-154, a novel self-amplifying COVID-19 vaccine and the world’s first approved sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The results demonstrate that two 5 μg doses of ARCT-154, sa-mRNA vaccine, were well-tolerated, immunogenic and provided significant protection against multiple strains of COVID-19.
Endeavor BioMedicines announce results of clinical trial on lung medicine
Endeavor BioMedicines, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines with the potential to deliver transformational clinical benefits to patients with life-threatening diseases, announced results from a completed Phase 2a clinical trial that demonstrate the company’s lead investigational candidate, ENV-101, improved lung function and reversed key measures of lung fibrosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) over a 12-week period.
MAIA Biotechnology to present at BIO International Convention in San Diego
MAIA Biotechnology Inc., a clinical stage company developing telomere-targeting immunotherapies for cancer, announced its participation in the upcoming BIO International Convention taking place June 3-6, 2024, in the San Diego Convention Center. The BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with over 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe. MAIA Chairman and CEO Vlad Vitoc, M.D. will deliver a presentation.
Construction employment increases in 39 states, including California
Construction employment increased in 39 states in April from a year earlier, while 29 states added construction jobs between March and April, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that new tariffs on construction materials and unworkable rules for certifying the origin of materials could slow projects and hiring in many states. Between April 2023 and April 2024, California added 15,100 construction jobs.
City of San Diego wins 2024 Ivory Prize for housing affordability
Recognizing progress toward its goal of creating homes that all San Diegans can afford, the City of San Diego has been named a winner of Ivory Innovations’ annual national Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability in its Public Policy and Regulatory Reform category. The Ivory Prize aims to recognize ambitious, feasible and scalable solutions to housing affordability throughout the nation. The city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Bonus Program, which allows additional ADUs to be built on a property when those ADUs are designated and guaranteed as affordable housing, was recognized as a top housing innovation in the country.
Gianni Buonomo Vintners leaving Ocean Beach for Midway
It’s a bittersweet move for owner/winemaker and OB resident Keith Rolle. “It took a couple of years for people to realize that world-class wine could be made in our little neighborhood. Since then, the Peninsula community has embraced us as their own. We’re eternally grateful for their tremendous support and are sad to leave OB. ”Over the years the winery has become more of a social hub than just a place to enjoy a great glass of wine. It has played host to special events for the Point Loma Music Boosters, Ocean Beach Woman’s Club, Naval Submarine League, and Point Loma Optimists as well as numerous private parties and fundraisers.
Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, Dec. 15 to Friday, Dec. 19.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
Light Up Oceanside: Chabad Jewish Center of Oceanside/Vista holds its annual community-wide Hanukkah celebration, themed “Light Up Oceanside.” Highlights include lighting of a giant 16-foot menorah, donuts, latkes and hot cocoa along with live DJ, fire show and Gelt drop. 5:30 p.m. Monday. Regal Cinema Plaza, 401 Mission Ave. Admission is free. jewishoceanside.com
Hanukkah Festivities: Seaport Village is partnering with the Chabad of Downtown San Diego to host a family-friendly Hanukkah event from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 in the lighthouse district, including live music, festive performers and the traditional lighting of the menorah. Visit https://www.seaportvillage.com/events/hanukkah-25
A guide to San Diego area community events for Hanukkah–the Festival of Lights
Silent Movie Mondays: As part of its silent movie series, the Balboa Theatre will play a double feature of “Old Scrooge” (1926) and “A Dog’s Life” (1918). Organist Ken Double will accompany the films, and there will be a post-film conversation with Double and Kristian Perez-Franco, exhibitions senior manager at Media Arts Center. 7 p.m. Monday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego. $28. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/old-scrooge-1913-and-a-dog-s-life-1918-2025
Derrick R. Cartwright author event: Derrick Cartwright is director of curatorial affairs at the Timken Museum of Art and an associate professor of art history at the University of San Diego. He will discuss his new book “Wayne Thiebaud: A Radical Realism.” 7:30 p.m. Monday. Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. $55 for book and reserved seats. warwicks.com/event/cartwright-2025
Holidays at LEGOLAND: Live entertainment, twinkling lights, holiday treats and some snowfall will be on display through Jan. 4. Throughout the holidays, the park’s 30-foot LEGO tree decked with lights and LEGO ornaments built out of more than 350,000 LEGO and Duplo bricks. Photos can be taken with life-sized festive LEGO models or costumed characters such as a LEGO Santa, toy soldier, gingerbread man and elf characters. The annual Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party is Dec. 31. Activities inside the park are included with regular park admission. LEGOLAND California, One Legoland Drive. legoland.com/california.
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration: Holiday wonderland runs daily to Jan. 4 with live musical shows, faux snowfall, over a million lights, Santa and real reindeer, singing elves and the SkyTower decorated as San Diego’s largest Christmas tree along with festive food and beverages. One Million Twinkling lights, nightly snowfall and immersive holiday experiences. There’ll be a new Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special at Sea Lion Stadium and a new Mrs. Claus story time show. All included with park admission Tickets start at $61.99 during the Black Friday Sale. www.seaworldsandiego.com
Belmont Park’s Winter Wonder: The annual event at the beachside amusement park, 3146 Mission Blvd., runs through Jan. 4 with hundreds of twinkling lights, carolers, holiday-themed treats and drinks and special events on weekends. Attractions include the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, Peppermint Putt Putt at Tiki Wonderland and Candy Cane Lanes Go Karts and and Polar Plunge. Tickets and passes are at belmontpark.com.
Tuesday
“Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet”: Talmi Entertainment’s 34th annual holiday touring production is visiting 100 cities this fall. The production features Ukrainian dancers, puppetry and acrobatics. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $74.60-$135.75. sandiegosymphony.org/performances/nutcracker-2025
Menorah Lighting at One Paseo: A community menorah lighting celebration will include festive music, donuts, hot latkes, face painting and balloons along with traditional lighting ceremony. 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Koi Pond at One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Place. onepaseo.com/events/menorah-lighting/
Wednesday
‘Cygnet’s A Magical Holiday Celebration!’: Cygnet Theatre’s education and outreach director Carlos Mendoza presents this holiday song-and-dance show for all ages. Inspired by the annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, the high-energy show will feature performances of songs including “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Feliz Navidad” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through Dec. 28. The Dottie Studio Theatre, The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District, Liberty Station, San Diego. $83. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.org
Winter Wonderland at Lakehouse Resort: One of the most family-friendly pop-up experiences, Lakehouse Resort throws an annual holiday festival with candy cane cruises on Lake San Marcos as a highlight. Seasonal drinks will be for sale for all ages. Activities include a frozen fun zone, a train, a s’mores station, bounce houses and more. Groups of families and friends can rent out igloos with fire pits, s’mores, charcuterie, wine and family dinners. Early bird prices are available online through Nov. 26. Prices vary per activity. Nov. 28 to Dec. 26. 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos. $10 admission for ages 10 or older, free for kids under age 10. events.thelakehouseresort.com/e/winter-wonderland-at-lakehouse-resort-2025
“2 Pianos, 4 Hands”: North Coat Repertory Theatre presents Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt’s autobiographical comedy with music about two aspiring concert pianists who grow up as friends and then enemies before making their peace with music. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Dec. 31. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $70.50. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
“Burnout Paradise”: La Jolla Playhouse presents a return engagement of Australia’s Pony Cam troupe performing their audience-interactive treadmill-of life comedic show that was the hit of the 2025 WOW Festival. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Potiker Theatre,La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $49-$59. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
“A Christmas Carol”: Cygnet Theatre’s 10th anniversary production of Charles Dickens’ redemptive holiday tale about miserly Victorian money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge has debuted at Cygnet’s new home theater, The Joan. 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. Joseph Clayes III Theater, The Joan. $73. 619-337-1525. cygnettheatre.com
“A Christmas Story”: San Diego Musical Theatre brings back this holiday musical adaptation of the beloved 1983 film about Ralphie, a precocious boy in 1940 Indiana who dreams of getting a a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. This will be the second time the company will produce the popular show. 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. SDMT Stage, 4650 Mercury St., San Diego. $30-$75. 858-560-5740, sdmt.org
Thursday
Festival of Lights at the Highlands: The event, hosted by Congregation Beth Am, will feature the lighting of the 5th night candles, singing and donuts along with other treats. There will be a musical revue by San Diego’s Jewish theatrical company, Shayna Punims, titled “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah.” 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Outside the Cinepolis movie theater at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 12925 El Camino Real. betham.com/event/cbaevent121825
Wine & Lecture — El Presidio de San Diego: SDSU lecturer, author and historian Richard Carrico will discuss El Presidio Real de San Diego. 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Coronado Historical Association Lecture Hall, 1100 Orange Ave., Coronado. $15 members, $20 nonmembers. coronadohistory.org/calendar/event/wine-lecture-el-presidio-de-san-diego/
Coastal Christmas at fairgrounds: The Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts Coastal Christmas, a festival with holiday light attractions. Highlights include a walk-through display of more than 1 million lights, “glice” skating, a holiday market, Frosty’s Fun Zone, Holiday Wine Walk and Santa and Friends. Igloos and fireside lounges can be reserved for cozying with some hot cocoa. S’mores kits, festive food and drinks will be sold. 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 18-23 and Dec. 26 at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Tickets start at $26.98 for adults and $20.61 for kids on select nights. Admission is free for kids 3 and younger. The Holiday Wine Walk is $54.99. Promotional nights include military, first responders and nurses, seniors and students. Also, the first 1,000 kids get in free Dec. 14 if they bring one unwrapped toy for children in need, and general admission tickets are buy one, get one free on Dec. 18. delmarfairgrounds.com/events/2025/coastal-christmas.
Jingle Jets: The USS Midway Museum will be decked with more than a million lights as part of its “Jingle Jets” holiday light show and festivities from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on select nights from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30. Highlights include Holiday Dancing Light Show, Midway’s Magical Penguin Search, Christmas Carol Karaoke, Bring Your Dog Night, Santa’s Christmas Rush Virtual Reality Ride and expanded Reindeer Games, among other festivities. Holiday eats & treats will be sold. Tickets are $20-$30 and sold only online; discounts for museum members; free for children 3 and younger. Visit midway.org/event/jingle-jets-2025
“Rent”: New Village Arts presents an intimate staging of Jonathan Larson’s musical about one year in the life of a group of friends in 1990 struggling to create art and survive in AIDS-plagued New York. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $35-$80. 760-433-3245, newvillagearts.org
Friday
Bingo Loco: What started in Ireland is now arriving in San Diego. Bingo Loco is an interactive game night filled with dance competitions, lip sync battles, prizes, comedy hosts and DJs playing throwback anthems from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Bingo Loco is for individuals 21 years of age and older. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 27. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., San Diego. us.bingoloco.com/san-diego
Camarada presents “Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz”: Camarada’s annual all-star concert is a consistent crowd-pleaser, thanks to a musical lineup that features some of San Diego’s leading jazz and classical musicians. This year’s lineup features flutist and Camarada co-founder Beth Ross Buckley, guitarist Peter Sprague, multi-lingual singer Allison Adams Tucker, pianist Danny Green, flutist and saxophonist Tripp Sprague, bassist Mackenzie Leighton and percussion mainstay Duncan Moore. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Faye Ave., La Jolla. $28-$98. camarada.org
Family Hanukkah Party: Congregation B’nai Tikvah will hold its annual community Hanukkah Party and Latke Contest on the sixth night of Hanukkah at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Masonic Center, 1331 S. Escondido Blvd. There will be latkes and donuts for dinner. Bring your menorah and seven candles to light. There will be Hanukkah songs led by Cantor Larry Kornit and retelling of the Hanukkah story. Free. Bring something dairy to share at the party and non-perishable food for Interfaith Community Services along with gently used coats, hoodies, shirts to donate to Sharia’s Closet that provides emergency clothing in the San Diego State area. For more information, call 760-650-2262 or visit bnaitikvahsd.org.
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”: Celebrate the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet’s 80th Anniversary Season with a trip to the Enchanted Land of Sweets. Danika Pramik-Holdaway directs the students of the Balboa Park-based company in the annual “Nutcracker” production. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Casa del Prado Theater, Balboa Park $27. 619-259-0220, sdcyb.org
“Mistletoe Melodies” with Erica Marie!: San Diego musical theater performer Erica Marie Weisz presents her jazz-and-classics holiday cabaret show at two local theaters in December. 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. White Family Stage, New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $28-$33. 760-433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“La Pastorela: A Shepherd’s Tale”: Teatro Máscara Mágica will present Timothy Paul Evans’ 37th anniversary pastorela play about the shepherds’ journey to Bethlehem on the first Christmas. The bilingual faith-based play will be performed mostly in English with Christmas carols sung in Spanish in two locations. 7 p.m. Friday through Tuesday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. at Southwestern College Performing Arts Center, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista. $10-$25. 619-987-5616, tickettailor.com/events/teatromscaramgica.
San Diego Symphony: “Noel, Noel”: Conductor Christopher Dragon leads the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Master Chorale, Children’s Choir and Musical Theatre Academy in this annual musical tale of Noel the Elf’s music-filled journey to find Santa. Jonathan Gilmer directs. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. Saturday; 5 p.m. Sunday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $55-$125. 619-235-0804, theshell.org
“Amahl and the Night Visitors”: Genesis Opera Theatre presents Gian-Carlo Menotti’s 1951 one-act, English-language Christmas opera inspired by the story of a poor disabled boy who meets three wise kings on their way to meet the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The production is directed by Cynthia Leigh with musical direction by Abraham Fabella. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Trinity Episcopal Church, 845 Chestnut St., Escondido. $30.95-$41.95. genesisoperatheatre.com
Golden State Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”: Choreographed by artistic director Raul Salamanca, the downtown production includes spectacular sets, elaborate costumes, and professional dancers and students from the award-winning academy. John Stubbs conducts a live orchestra from the San Diego Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Fiday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $58.40-$199.75. Youth discounts available. goldenstateballet.org
San Diego, CA
The gun violence that has taken place in the last two days is prompting San Diego community members to take action.
As local members of the Jewish community celebrated the first day of Hanukkah, they joined in solidarity with those impacted by the tragedy in Australia.
Meanwhile, other members of the community honored the lives lost to gun violence.
Despite the somber and tragic events that have unfolded in the last two days, the community is holding strong.
San Diegans are choosing to focus on the light rather than the darkness.
“Our job is not just to spread light with words, but with actions,” Rabbi Yossi Tiefenbrun, Director of Chabad of Pacific Beach said.
As members of the Jewish community gathered at Liberty Station Sunday night to kick off the first day of Hannukah by the lighting of the menorah, their hearts are with their brothers and sisters in Bondi, Australia, where two attackers killed at least 15 people in a shooting during the Jewish holiday celebration.
“Personally, it’s been a very difficult day. The Rabbi in the city of Australia was a classmate of mine. We grew up together in London, England. So waking up to that kind of news was devastating,” Rabbi Yossi Tiefenbrun said.
The tragedy in Australia comes just hours after a gunman opened fire at Brown University, killing two and injuring at least nine others.
“For every shooting, for every death, there’s a family behind that. There are friends, there are loved ones,” Carol Landale said.
Sunday also marks 13 years since a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut, killing 20-first graders and 6 staff members.
“When will this stop… When will the powers of this world say enough?” Rev. Penny Bridges, Dean, St. Paul Cathedral said.
The annual vigil of remembrance for the victims of gun violence was held Sunday night at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
“In this festive time of advent and festive season of Hanukkah, we call on our loving and living God to bring peace to our world, to end the evil of Gun violence,” Rev. Penny Bridges said.
With violence erupting on the first day of Hanukkah, the head of security for the Jewish Federation said they are working with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of everyone in the community.
“I think it’s important for everyone to know that there are no articulated threats in our area we just have to be situationally aware,” Bill Ganley, Community Security Director for the Jewish Federation said.
San Diegans are standing strong in solidarity for one another, hoping for a brighter future ahead.
“We will fight with light whenever there is darkness,” Michael Sclar, who attended the menorah lighting said.
In a statement to NBC 7, The American Jewish Committee of San Diego said in part, “Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, and while we are horrified and devastated, we are not surprised…Hanukkah is time for joy and light and this year, we hope others will join us as we light our candles in solidarity with the Australian Jewish community. Because antisemitism is a threat to all of society and if we fail to push back against this evil hatred, everyone is at risk.
PACIFIC BEACH (CNS) – Two San Diego police officers who were on foot in a Pacific Beach intersection were struck tonight by a car operated by a wrong-way driver who was believed intoxicated.
The crash occurred at 8:25 p.m. Saturday in the intersection of Thomas Avenue and Mission Boulevard, San Diego Police Department Officer Anthony Carrosco told City News Service.
The suspect’s Honda Civic was eastbound in westbound lanes when it struck the on-duty officers, Carrosco said. It was unclear what the officers were doing in the roadway.
One officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to a trauma center, he said. The other officer was not injured.
The man driving the Honda was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI, Carrosco said. The man’s name and age were not immediately released.
The intersection was closed for the investigation, he said.
Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.
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