Daily Business Report: Monday, November 17, 2025
Coastal Commission Looks to Shed Its Controversial Reputation
By Nadia Lathan | Voice of San Diego
Commission members gathered in downtown Sacramento last week for their monthly meeting to address the latest developments along California’s coast.
On the agenda was a Santa Monica hotel failing to comply with accessibility requirements and the Diablo Canyon power plant – the last remaining nuclear site in California – trying to stay open despite mounting environmental concerns.
Also on the schedule was a rule change that would give coastal affordable housing projects more time to begin construction.
College kids’ math skills worse than ever, California finds — blame our pass-the-buck public schools
By Karol Markowicz | New York Post
What happens when a child is promoted, grade by grade, through America’s K-12 school system but can’t actually perform at grade level in reading, writing or math?
As the University of California at San Diego found, they get into college — and become someone else’s problem.
UC San Diego’s Senate-Administration Workgroup on Admissions released a startling report last week documenting a steep decline in college preparedness.
Between 2020 and 2025, it found, the number of freshmen with math skills below middle-school level “increased nearly thirtyfold” — with about one in eight of them unable to handle even the most basic high school math.
Biz Beat: Nov. 14: $750K donations, storywalks, and holiday magic
By Debbie L. Sklar | Times of San Diego
San Diego’s business and nonprofit communities are buzzing this week with big donations, new facilities, festive experiences, and ways to give back. From $750,000 in meals for families to holiday gondola cruises, tickets to The Flower Fields and other openings, here’s what’s happening around town.
Blue Shield Promise Donates $750,000 to Food Banks
Blue Shield Promise is helping feed thousands of families in San Diego and Los Angeles counties with a $750,000 donation split among three food banks. Over 20 employees volunteered at Feeding San Diego, packaging meals and seeing the impact firsthand. The gift alone will provide roughly 500,000 meals, supporting local families facing food insecurity.
