New overnight express bus from San Ysidro to Downtown
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) launched service on the Route 910 Overnight Express on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 12:28 a.m., making MTS officially a 24-hour operation. The route connects San Ysidro and Downton during the late night and early morning hours.
“For the first time in the agency’s history, MTS will have an overnight bus service that will benefit countless late night travelers and service-industry employees that live on both sides of the border,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3.
The new route provides a link along the busiest transit corridor in the region. Route 910 will operate during the hours when the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley cannot run service. MTS shares part of the rail line with heavy freight companies overnight and federal regulations limit the agency’s ability to run service at the same time.
In addition to the new overnight bus route, MTS announced major improvements to trolley service on nights and weekends. The Green Line now has 15-minute service all day, every day. The UC San Diego Blue Line will increase to 15-minute service after 9:30 p.m. between Downtown San Diego and UTC nightly. And the Orange Line will increase to 15-minute service weekend mornings, giving riders 15-minute service until 7 p.m. The changes are funded by Senate Bill 125.
Parking rates doubled
Hourly rates recently doubled for parking meters in the City of San Diego. The rate increase, from $1.25 to $2.50 per hour for most meters, follows a resolution by the San Diego City Council amid a huge budget deficit.
The resolution raises rates for most of the city’s parking meters to $2.50 an hour. There are 5,332 parking metered spaces in the city, located in the neighborhoods of Downtown, Uptown, Mid-City and Pacific Beach. The vast majority of the meters, more than 4,400, will charge the maximum $2.50 rate, as permitted by the Municipal Code. The remainder of the meters, which previously charged 50 cents to $1, will see their rates double, as well.
Meter fees help fund maintenance of transportation infrastructure like streets, sidewalks and streetlights in areas with parking meters. It’s been at least 20 years since parking meter fees have been increased in the City of San Diego.
Even with the rate increase, San Diego’s parking meter fees remain among the lowest in the state of California. Oakland’s parking meters cost up to $4 an hour, Los Angeles charges up to $6 an hour, and San Francisco’s meters cost up to $11. Rates will not change for waterfront parking meters operated by the Port of San Diego, which are already set at $2.50 an hour.
New Port of San Diego economic report shows 41% growth
The Port of San Diego’s economic impact on the San Diego County region totaled $13 billion in fiscal year 2023 (FY2023) — a 41% increase from 2019, according to a report from Cambridge Systematics. The Port’s job growth was also strong with a 10% increase from 2019 to more than 71,000 total jobs supported. Through a multiplier effect, approximately one in 30 San Diego County jobs were generated by the Port, and every direct Port job supported six more jobs in other industries throughout the county, state, and the U.S.
“The study’s findings underscore the Port’s resilience through the pandemic and our incredible recovery in the face of global supply chain issues, inflation, and other economic challenges,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “We are a public agency that doesn’t collect taxes. That means that our diverse maritime and real estate portfolio, along with smart investments, are crucial to our ability to be a major player and job creator in our region’s economy.”
Additional findings of the Fiscal Year 2023 Economic Impact Report include:
• Visitors to hotels along the Port’s San Diego Bay waterfront spent $2.6 billion in FY2023.
• Direct spending by the cruise industry in FY2023 totaled over $104 million.
• More than 2.4 million tons of cargo were shipped through the Port of San Diego in FY2023.
• Between FY2021 and FY2023, the total tons of cargo shipped through the Port increased by 12 percent.
View the complete FY2023 Economic Impact Report at portofsandiego.org/economicimpact.
Education updates
SD Unified: Early retirements reduce layoffs
San Diego Unified School District’s strategy to drive down its $112 million projected deficit for next year is advancing better than expected with some unplanned developments that heavily favor SD Unified. Employees deciding to take the Supplemental Early Retirement Plan (SERP) was about 27% higher than originally anticipated. The estimated projection was 755, but 965 filed the SERP paperwork by the Jan. 15 deadline.
SD Unified’s Budget Review Team communicated with principals, site administrators and labor partners that the increase in SERP applicants “gives us an opportunity to develop and implement an attrition model that is both fiscally aligned and allows us to retain as many employees as possible to avoid a large amount of layoffs.”
UCSD, SDCCD get $3M grant for humanities
A multiyear collaboration between the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and the University of California San Diego to boost the numbers of students studying and embarking on successful careers in the humanities is receiving a pair of grants totaling $3 million from the Mellon Foundation, the third round of support received since the program’s inception in 2016.
The latest grants strengthen and expand the Preparing Accomplished Transfers to the Humanities (PATH) program, a collaborative transfer student support effort led by the SDCCD and UC San Diego’s School of Arts and Humanities.
It also boosts the humanities by establishing a Humanities4Careers paid internship program, enhancing a Ph.D. fellowship program, mentoring students in a year-long social justice research project, providing workshops, and panel discussions focused on equity practices and career options, and more.
The PATH program began in the fall of 2016 when the Mellon Foundation awarded UC San Diego and the SDCCD a pair of grants totaling $2.59 million over three years to support underrepresented humanities students who are interested in transferring to UC San Diego.
Business and nonprofit announcements
Broadway San Diego announces 48th season
Brendan Xavier as the Beast in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Photo by Daniel Boud)
Broadway San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation proudly announced its 48th Season, celebrating The Stories That Connect Us. This season brings a lineup of Award-winning productions, cherished classics, and exciting new musicals to the West Coast. Season ticket packages are now available at BroadwaySD.com.
This seven-show season kicks off with “Suffs,” the Tony Award-winning musical that celebrates the bold and brilliant women who championed the suffrage movement. Up next is “& Juliet,” a pop-fueled reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic love story.
The season continues with the heartwarming adaptation of the beloved novel-turned-film “The Notebook,” followed by the cherished Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, “The Sound of Music,” directed by former artistic director of The Old Globe and Broadway legend, Jack O’Brien.
Next, Disney’s 30th Anniversary new production of “Beauty and the Beast” enchants audiences with its timeless romance and dazzling production. Alicia Keys’ electric new musical “Hell’s Kitchen” makes its San Diego debut, bringing an inspiring story of self-discovery to the stage. And closing the season is “Water for Elephants,” a stunning spectacle based on the bestselling novel, bringing the magic of the circus to life.
Convention Center announces mission-driven coffee partner
The San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) and its exclusive food and beverage provider Sodexo Live! announced a new partnership with Talitha Coffee.
With a roastery in Barrio Logan, one mile from SDCC, Talitha offers high-quality blends through a mission-driven business model. The company provides training, employment, and holistic support to survivors of human trafficking. The launch of this Talitha-SDCC partnership coincides with Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, a national effort to end human trafficking in America and around the globe.
“By working with Sodexo Live! and the Convention Center, we can raise awareness year-round and support survivors through expanded employment opportunities,” said Jake Jiron, Talitha’s head of sales. “This relationship builds on the growth and success we’ve developed with other San Diego businesses, such as Izola Bakery in East Village.”
In 2024, Sodexo Live! served approximately 700,000 cups of coffee at SDCC. Meeting planners interested in upgrading their coffee service can now opt to select a custom blend from Talitha Coffee, elevating the experience for their attendees while supporting a meaningful cause. This custom blend is exclusively available at SDCC; it isn’t available for retail purchase.
CBRE arranges sale of Sixth & G, Seventh & G
CBRE negotiated the sale of two multifamily communities in Downtown to Pacific Urban Investors.
“The portfolio sale represents two of only 16 properties over 100 units sold in San Diego County in 2024. We remain extremely enthusiastic about the future and growth of Downtown San Diego – fueled by the continued success of the San Diego Padres and Gallagher Square, the exciting plans for Gaslamp Promenade and continued strong retail absorption throughout Downtown,” said Rachel Parsons, executive vice president at CBRE.
Both properties were completed in the late-2000s. Sixth & G features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, averaging 697 sq. ft. Each of the 106 units’ interiors has floor-to-ceiling windows, an inspired kitchen, hardwood-style flooring and washer and dryers. The property features a club room, an indoor/outdoor fitness center and 10,797 sq. ft. of retail space, including Ace Hardware and Fig Tree Café.
Seventh & G, located on G Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue, features 145 units with floorplans ranging in size from live-work lofts, studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom and averaging 686 sq. ft. Seventh & G features some of San Diego’s most popular restaurants – Neighborhood, Noble Experiment, Young Blood and Breakfast Republic.
El Chingon introduces wings for Super Bowl
Get ready to cheer, chow down and celebrate like champions at El Chingon, GBOD Hospitality Group’s popular “Bad Ass Mexican” hotspot at 560 Fifth Ave. in the Gaslamp Quarter on Sunday, Feb. 9.
While watching the game, guests can get a first taste of El Chingon’s new wing selections, debuting for the Big Game. Available in six and 12-piece servings and priced at $11 and $19 respectively, the wings will be served with ranch, carrots and celery. Flavorful sauce and rub options include barbecue, buffalo, buffalo mango habanero and maple chipotle. Fans can immerse themselves in the football frenzy with front-row viewing action across a 120-inch LED screen and 10 high-definition TVs spanning the venue.
USS Midway gets trading cards
Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, announced its collaboration with the USS Midway Museum to bring the history of the USS Midway (CV 41) to life through a series of trading card collectibles.
The trading cards will feature sailors who served aboard as a subset of the Goodwin Champions collection, alongside relic cards showcasing unique memorabilia items from the USS Midway. The USS Midway was a revolutionary aircraft carrier that served for nearly 50 years. At the time of its commissioning, it was the largest ship in the world and the first aircraft carrier too large to transit the Panama Canal. The Midway played a crucial role in many historical events, including the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm.
Today, the Midway continues to serve as a popular museum ship in San Diego, Calif., attracting over 1 million visitors annually.
“This is an opportunity to tell the stories of Midway’s 47 years of service in a truly unique way,” said Terry Kraft, CEO of the USS Midway Museum.
Collectors can now find the USS Midway trading card set within Goodwin Champions highlighting key moments of its history at Certified Diamond Dealers and UpperDeckStore.com.
Scatena Daniels, cThru Media enter strategic partnership
After years of collaboration and success on joint projects, Scatena Daniels Communications and cThru Media are launching a strategic partnership boasting a unique shared services model that provides comprehensive integrated communications strategies to expand the reach of their clients’ missions, help them attract more supporters, and increase their fundraising efforts.
Located in Southern California, cThru Media and Scatena Daniels will remain separate businesses throughout this partnership. However, they will work closely to identify opportunities for collaboration between the two teams, offering their various integrated communications services–like social media, creative development, public relations, graphic design, and content marketing–to clients under a shared contract.
c3 Communications PR firm celebrates 25th anniversary
c3 Communications, a public relations firm in San Diego that was founded in 2000 by Joice Truban Curry, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Over the past quarter-century, the agency has won multiple local Bernay’s Awards and three national PRSA Silver Anvil Awards for its outstanding work. Curry also has been honored with the Edward L. Bernay’s Eva Irving Award for community service. She was named Public Relations Professional of the Year by the San Diego chapter of PRSA, and San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s top 40 outstanding community leaders, and a Visionary in Philanthropy by the Salvation army.
People to watch
Dr. Christina Connett Brophy appointed as President and CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego, an adventurous non-profit dedicated to collecting, preserving and presenting rich maritime heritage, announced the appointment of Dr. Christina Connett Brophy as its new president and CEO, effective immediately.
Dr. Connett Brophy brings more than a decade of leadership experience in the museum industry, where she has championed cultural enrichment and fostered meaningful connections within the community. Her dedication to cultivating impactful experiences and her visionary approach make her uniquely positioned to steer the Maritime Museum of San Diego into its next chapter of growth and success.
CBRE hires Brunson Howard as San Diego market leader
CBRE announced thatBrunson Howard has joined the company as the market leader and senior managing director for San Diego. In this role, Howard will oversee the market’s business operations and drive their growth strategies for all advisory service lines, including leasing, sales, debt and structured finance, valuation and property management.
An 18-year industry veteran, Howard most recently served as executive managing director at Newmark in San Diego. In the role, he focused on expanding the company’s footprint in San Diego and executing high-profile investment sales for a broad spectrum of property types. Earlier in his career, Howard held several leadership and capital markets roles at Cushman & Wakefield in San Diego.
Amy Todd to lead Jackson Lewis’ San Diego office
Nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. announced Amy Todd has joined the firm as office managing principal in San Diego.
Todd joins the firm from Littler Mendelson, where she was a shareholder, and brings more than 25 years of experience in employment litigation. Todd now represents employers across various industries throughout California.
Todd has a strong commitment to attorney mentorship and leadership, which influenced her decision to take on the role of managing the San Diego office. Todd is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section and the San Francisco Bar Association. She is also an active supporter of San Diego Pride and the Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association.
It’s award season
Monarch School leader honored by Prebys Foundation
Prebys Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 Prebys Leadership Awards, recognizing five exceptional leaders from organizations across San Diego County. Each honoree will receive $100,000 to support their work in the fields of arts and culture, healthcare, medical research, and youth success.
This year’s recipients included Afira Arrastia-DeVries, president and CEO of the Monarch School Project in Barrio Logan, who leads the only K-12 public institution dedicated to providing a welcoming environment to unhoused students while supporting teachers across the country to learn how to better serve these youth and their families.
More than 200 local leaders were nominated by fellow San Diegans for this prestigious award.
“The talent and dedication in our region are immense,” said Prebys Foundation CEO Grant Oliphant. “We are fortunate to have a deep bench of visionary and committed leaders. Through this award, along with our investments in leadership development and nonprofit capacity, we aim to support the individuals and organizations that help San Diego stay healthy, obtain essential resources, and foster a strong, caring community.”
Equality Business Awards announced
San Diego Equality Business Association celebrated an evening of outstanding community leaders and LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs at the Equality Business Awards held at the beautiful Westgate Hotel. This award ceremony recognized leaders across various sectors, creating a night full of unity, community building and incredible energy.
The most notable recognitions went to Moe Girton from Gossip Grill who was awarded the Trailblazer Award for her continuous work in the community. Tonya Torosian won the SDEBA Lifetime Achievement Award for her years for dedicated service, leadership and advocacy for foster youth.
A huge congratulations to winners SDG&E and City Heights CDC, as corporate partners of the year, small business champion Dapper Boi, community leader Sarah Buchanan, equality advocate Jen LaBarbera, ally Adriana Brunner, emerging business Lambda Rising Soccer Club, and hospitality partner Rich’s.
City wins award for digital inclusion
The City of San Diego has been honored as a 2024 Visionary Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) for its SD Access 4 All program.
As part of the City’s commitment to closing the digital divide that leaves tens of thousands of San Diegans without internet access, SD Access 4 All offers several services including public Wi-Fi at over 300 locations, hotspots available for check out at libraries, and free computer and internet skill-building classes as well as Digital Navigators who provide multilingual tech support.
Along with the SD Access 4 All Program, the city is moving further to ensure digital inclusion in San Diego with the creation of a new Broadband Master Plan, an initiative that aims to provide an analysis of current broadband access and make recommendations to increase access, adoption and affordability in identified locations.
The primary goal of the Broadband Master Plan is to increase the availability and affordability of broadband in the city with a focus on underserved communities, low-income housing residents, and public-serving city facilities. The plan will also ensure that San Diego meets State of California standards for broadband speeds.
The creation of the Broadband Master plan will position the city to coordinate, leverage and implement state and federal broadband infrastructure investments and policy, and identify how city and public resources can be used to increase broadband access and affordability.
County declares Marco Li Mandri Day
The County of San Diego honored Marco Li Mandri for his decades of transformative work in community revitalization. In recognition of his leadership and impact, Dec. 2 was officially declared “Marco Li Mandri Day” throughout San Diego County.
A San Diego native, born and raised in Little Italy, Marco has been instrumental in transforming the neighborhood of Little Italy into one of the most vibrant and successful cultural districts in the United States. Through his role as Chief Executive Administrator of the Little Italy Association, he led initiatives that celebrate the neighborhood’s rich history while fostering economic growth and community pride.
Through his company, New City America, Marco has established nearly 100 Business Improvement and Community Benefit Districts across the country, helping transform neighborhoods like Downtown Chula Vista, East Village, Downtown Glendale, Downtown Hayward, and beyond. His efforts have shaped urban development nationwide, fostering vibrant, sustainable communities.