Daily Business Report: May 18, 2026
Lawsuit: County spent $26.8M on air purifiers that won’t relieve noxious Tijuana River pollution
by Dorian Hargrove| Times of San Diego
A company that sought a government contract to provide air purifiers to Tijuana River Valley residents says the county instead purchased purifiers that will offer residents little to no relief from the tainted air emanating from the polluted waterway.
In a newly-filed court petition, attorneys for Medify Air are asking a judge to throw out the $26.8 million contract San Diego County awarded to Oransi LLC for tens of thousands of portable air purifiers.
The county’s push to deliver 30,000 air purifiers is part of its plan to provide relief to South Bay residents and business owners forced to breathe in the noxious hydrogen sulfide that rises from the polluted waterway. The purifiers would act as a temporary, partial solution while the United States and Mexico attempt to fix aging and inadequate infrastructure at the transboundary water treatment plant.
Katie Porter’s sneaky power move in California governor’s debate — all candidates ranked
By Joel Pollak | California Post
The fourth and final gubernatorial debate of the California primary brought a surprise.
Democrat Katie Porter openly and publicly borrowed an idea from Republican Steve Hilton: ending income taxes for those earning less than $100,000 per year.
It made Hilton look good. But it also helped Porter look magnanimous. In a gesture of generosity toward an opponent, she helped assuage concerns about her “temperament.”
Xavier Becerra, who appears to be emerging as the frontrunner in some recent polls, had a tough night. But the fact that he took a lot of attacks might, ironically, cement him in voters’ minds as the leader.
Free Workshops Aim to Stop San Diego Seniors From Becoming the Next Fraud Victim
By San Diego Seniors Community Foundation
May is Older Americans Month, and the timing couldn’t be more fitting. Elder fraud has surged 84% nationwide, AI-powered deepfakes are making scams increasingly difficult for anyone to detect, and federal and local budget cuts are straining the very programs designed to protect seniors. Meanwhile, Medicare and Medicaid fraud has seniors’ identities being used to file false claims without their knowledge.
There is help! The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) is bringing a series of free Elder Fraud Workshops and Financial Stability Resource Fairs all over San Diego this May. The events are designed to do more than educate, they’re built to help stabilize seniors’ finances in real time and are open to seniors, caregivers, and families at no charge.
Each resource fair brings breakout elder fraud education sessions together with on-site financial resource partners, including Wells Fargo volunteers, plus Medicare and Medi-Cal navigation and fraud awareness support. Attendees will learn to recognize today’s most convincing scams (AI voice cloning, deepfake video, spoofed numbers, impersonation schemes) and connect with local organizations that can help lower bills, identify benefits, and strengthen long-term financial security.
“These scams are no longer obvious,” said Paul Downey, Chief Advocacy Officer at SDSCF. “We’re seeing lawyers, doctors, pilots, business owners, highly educated, experienced professionals, fall victim. AI has fundamentally changed the landscape.”
There is a resource fair in every corner of San Diego this month. Events are scheduled at Fourth District Resource Center in San Diego on May 19 (10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.); Cathy Hopper Clairemont Friendship Center on May 22 (11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.); and Kimball Senior Center in National City on May 26 (12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.). All events are free.
Pre-register and enter to win an attendee prize drawing at sdscf.org/elder-fraud or email elderfraud@sdscf.org with your name and event location.
